The Dominican Republic has made its return to FITPAR, Paraguay's biggest tourism fair, pitching itself to South American travellers with a message that goes well beyond the beach-and-resort formula of Punta Cana.
The country attended as guest of honour at the 21st edition of the International Tourism Fair of Paraguay, held at the Mariscal Convention Center in Asunción. It was the first Dominican presence at the event since the pandemic, and Reina Olivares — who represents the Dominican Republic Tourism Office in Argentina, covering Uruguay and Paraguay — framed it as a chance to rebuild ties with local travel agencies and tour operators after a few quiet years.
The interesting part of the pitch is what came after Punta Cana. Dominican reps used the fair to push a wider set of destinations: Puerto Plata on the north coast, the whale-watching peninsula of Samaná, the laid-back beach hubs of Bayahíbe and La Romana in the southeast, and Santo Domingo, the Caribbean's oldest colonial city. For Paraguayans, who already know Punta Cana well, the idea is to sell the country as a multi-stop destination rather than a single-resort holiday.
Air connectivity got a mention too. Direct or well-linked flights between Paraguay and the Dominican Republic make the trip straightforward, and the tourism office sees that as a lever to grow visitor numbers further.
FITPAR itself is a serious regional fixture. Organised by the Paraguayan Association of Travel Agencies and Tourism Companies (Asatur), this edition packed in more than 600 exhibitors, 300 brands and delegations from 11 countries, alongside business meetings and programmes built around food, culture and travel.
For the Dominican Republic, the appearance is part of a broader strategy to diversify its source markets. European and North American visitors have long anchored its tourism numbers, and South America — Paraguay included — is viewed as growth territory. Getting in front of Paraguayan agents at their own fair is the classic way to do it: agents sell what they know, and familiarity is exactly what the DR is trying to build.
Why should a traveller care? If you're in Paraguay or neighbouring countries and the Caribbean has felt like a one-beach proposition, this is a sign the options are widening. Puerto Plata offers a mix of beaches and mountain scenery, Samaná is one of the best places in the world to watch humpback whales between January and March, and Santo Domingo's Zona Colonial is a UNESCO-listed historic centre that most resort-only visitors never see. Expect Paraguayan agencies to start packaging these places as the Dominican push intensifies — possibly with deals attached.
