Banco BHD and the Dominican Association of Sports Tourism (Adoturd) announced in Santo Domingo during the 2026 International Tourism Trade Fair (Fitur) the execution of the country’s first research study on sports tourism. The study, titled “Economic Impact Study of Sports Tourism in the Dominican Republic,” will be conducted by the Center for Tourism Studies and Local Development (CETDEL).
The research will measure sports tourism as a distinct subsector, collecting data on investment levels and its economic contributions within the Dominican Republic. It will also analyze the consumer profile associated with this sector to support the optimization of public policies,
promote innovation, and enhance sustainability practices in sports tourism, which the World Tourism Organization estimates represents 10% of global tourist spending.
Steven Puig, president of Banco BHD, said the country has significant potential to expand this tourism niche. “We believe our country has all the potential to further strengthen this niche, and that is why we want to join efforts to support the National Sports Tourism Strategy through research, which is a fundamental pillar for designing data-driven strategies,” Puig stated. Yerik Pérez, president of Adoturd, added that the Dominican Republic could become the leading sports tourism hub in the Caribbean
and Central America and emphasized the research’s role in advancing sustainable economic and social impacts.
Beyond research, the collaboration between Banco BHD and Adoturd involves a strategic alliance to develop financial products targeted at event organizers, tour operators, athletes, and participants in sports tourism activities. It also includes training programs for micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises, focusing on the sector’s value chain and its specific requirements. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), sports tourism is a fast-growing segment that increases length of stay and spending, thereby enhancing the Dominican Republic’s investment appeal.
