Recognized for its gorgeous seashores and welcoming locals, this Caribbean hotspot attracts tens of millions of holiday makers every year. That’s why it’s essential to prioritize security from the second you arrive till it’s time to say goodbye.
As with every worldwide vacation spot, vacationers ought to familiarize themselves with potential security issues to make knowledgeable choices about the place to remain, go to, and which actions to keep away from.
LATEST NEWS from the Dominican Republic:
Dec. 2024 – British Vacationers Might Be Denied Entry into the Dominican Republic in 2025
The Dominican Republic plans to implement a brand new entry restriction for British residents beginning Nov. 30, 2025, in keeping with a latest replace from the UK’s International, Commonwealth & Improvement Workplace (FCDO).
To be able to be allowed entry, most guests are required to current passports with at the very least six months of validity. Beginning subsequent 12 months, Britons might want to do the identical.
The brand new rule may additionally have an effect on residents from the US, Canada, and Europe, although info stays unclear and contradictory up to now.
Crime Statistics within the Dominican Republic
The worldwide information platform Numbeo, ranks the Dominican Republic as a rustic with a excessive crime degree, scoring 70.17 factors.
Fortuitously, not your entire territory is equally affected by violence. Listed below are some key statistics concerning crime and security.
| Degree of crime | 70.78 | Excessive |
| Rising crime over the previous 5 years | 71.53 | Excessive |
| Issues about automotive theft | 65.77 | Excessive |
| Issues about having your automotive stolen | 49.76 | Reasonable |
| Issues about being bodily attacked as a consequence of pores and skin shade, ethnic origin, gender, or faith | 24.52 | Low |
| Violent crimes equivalent to assault and armed theft | 69.57 | Excessive |
| Security when strolling alone throughout daylight | 55.99 | Reasonable |
| Security when strolling alone after darkish | 26.97 | Low |
Areas to Keep away from
Vacationers ought to train elevated warning in sure areas of the island as a consequence of excessive crime charges.
These embody neighborhoods equivalent to Capotillo, Cristo Rey, Gualey, Los Guandules, and Villas Agrícolas in Santo Domingo, in addition to areas close to the border with Haiti.
Official Journey Advisories
U.S. Journey Advisory
The U.S. State Division ranks the Dominican Republic as a Degree 2 vacation spot, that means the nation is as protected as Spain or Italy.
Nonetheless, the advisory highlights issues about violent crimes equivalent to armed theft, murder, and sexual assault throughout the island. It additionally notes that vacationer areas are usually higher policed.
Canada Journey Advisory
The Canadian authorities advises vacationers to the Dominican Republic to train “a excessive diploma of warning as a consequence of crime.”
The advisory reads that almost all violent crimes happen in main cities, whereas vacationers are sometimes targets of petty crimes equivalent to pickpocketing and bag-snatching.
Be reminded that crime tends to extend throughout the holidays, significantly at resorts, seashores, airports and on public transportation.
Security Ideas for the Dominican Republic
- Keep on with standard vacationer hotspots like Punta Cana, Bavaro, and La Romana, the place there’s a sturdy police presence.
- Don’t flash valuables like jewellery, electronics, or massive quantities of money.
- Depart your passports safe at your lodging.
- Don’t flag down random taxis to keep away from being overcharged.
- Don’t go to remoted seashores after darkish.
- By no means go away your drinks unattended, and keep away from accepting drinks from pleasant strangers at native bars.
- Driving circumstances might be chaotic for People or Europeans. Solely hire a automotive if skilled in such environments.
- Keep away from swimming alone; the island has a number of sturdy currents.
- When you have an emergency, name native police at 911.
