With just over 10 million people, the Dominican Republic is the second-largest Caribbean nation after Cuba. But the D.R. is clear and away the regional leader when it comes to tourism. In 2012, more than 4.56 million tourists visited the country by air, a 5.9 percent increase over the year before. Of the total, just under 639,000 were non-resident Dominicans abroad.
America Cruise Ferries, the company that operates the only commercial maritime connection between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, saw an influx of North American passengers during Easter Week, when the ship departed only from San Juan to the neighboring island nation.
Looking to boost exchanges in key areas such as agriculture, manufacturing and energy, and reestablish direct trade routes between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, the Department of Economic Development and Commerce has created a task force responsible for promoting commercial ties between the islands.
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