News- Dominican Republic Travel Advisory 2024

The Dominican Republic is a beautiful place with stunning beaches and some of the most affordable all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. For those reasons, it has been a consistently popular travel destination. Unfortunately, over the past few years, a slew of bad press has tarnished this country’s reputation. Everything from tragic deaths, assaults, rape, and poisoning has been splashed all over the news. Recently, a young, healthy mother died on a flight home from DR. Her death was ultimately determined to be from natural causes, but it didn’t help the country still reeling from other scandals. They currently stand at a Level 2 travel advisory, but travel is cautioned there. Here’s why and what you should know before going.

To understand what is happening now that makes travel to DR iffy at best is the country’s geography. DR shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. Where DR seems to have mostly corrected its most significant problems, the same can’t be said for Haiti. Travelers have been cautioned to be very careful when traveling to DR because of high crime rates and political unrest between violent criminal gangs and the government of Haiti, in particular Prime Minister Ariel Henry. The Dominican Republic has been on a Level 2 travel advisory, with Haiti, Russia, and Syria being Level 4 countries. At Level 4, Americans are discouraged from traveling there because the risk of being a victim of a violent crime is extremely high. Since Haiti and the DR are connected by land, this also makes the DR dangerous.

Haiti is considered Level 4 because of its massive crime rate and unpredictable political climate. Violent gangs have taken over the city of Port-au-Prince, and the US is concerned about the US Embassy and safeguarding American travelers. The largest of the gangs has taken over Haitian government buildings and prisons and continues to fight amongst themselves as well. A prison was broken into, and inmates were encouraged to join the coup against PM Henry. Henry resigned on March 11th, 2024, but the fighting persisted across the country. Military troops were deployed to protect the US Embassy, and citizens have been encouraged to leave as quickly as possible. Those who have traveled there despite the risks are cautioned to be weary of crowds, avoid them when possible, and not be out after dark.

In July 2023, nonessential workers and family members were ordered to leave Haiti, and those who remained were not permitted to walk the streets of Port-au-Prince. They couldn’t use public transportation, access ATMs, or drive at night. With the situation in flux and chaos reigning, Haiti as a destination is again strongly discouraged. The travel advisory has remained in place since 2023, but the government is reissuing warnings.

What does a Level 4 travel advisory mean?

Placing Haiti under a Level 4 travel advisory means all American citizens should leave the country as quickly as possible and be strongly warned against visiting there. Level 4 travel advisories are not travel bans but are saved for the most war-torn countries and authoritarian regimes. Surprisingly, despite the known security risks and ongoing dangerous situations, cruises are still docking in Labadee. This peninsula is a six-hour drive from Port-au-Prince and is a private place owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Guests can not leave the resort, and there have been no reported issues. Still, RCL recently said they are monitoring the situation closely and will adjust accordingly, as reported by CNN. Placing Haiti under a Level 4 travel advisory means all American citizens should leave the country as quickly as possible and are strongly warned against visiting there.

Is the Dominican Republic safe?

Given the chaos in Haiti, travel to the DR is cautioned. While I wouldn’t completely exclude trips here, I wouldn’t recommend them for anyone who is traveling with small children, older adults, or nervous travelers. Punta Cana, the most popular city, is as far away from the unrest as you can get and still be on the island, and the gangs who have taken control in Haiti have historically not migrated to the Dominican Republic. Recent travelers report no problems if they stay within the resorts and do not explore outside those confines. If you are an adventurous vacationer and like to venture out to spots unknown, however, pick another location. If you are looking to put your toes in the sand and eat and drink yourself silly, and you can compartmentalize like a champ, the DR is still a viable option.

In Haiti, there are widespread reports of sophisticated kidnappings and violent assaults. Convoys have been attacked, and people are targeted leaving the airport. Women are primarily targeted, according to news reports. If you are currently in Haiti, you are encouraged to fill out a crisis intake form to get assistance leaving the country, as few commercial flights are available.

Recommendation

The Dominican Republic Travel Advisory for 2024 should be taken seriously. Think of it this way: if you live in Missouri in the United States, and there was an active political coup and roving violent gangs in the neighboring state of Kansas, you would be worried. Proximity is everything, and I have a low threshold for violence. I wouldn’t take my children or parents there until things have calmed down. The odds are that you will be fine, but I’m not taking any unnecessary risks. If you have the option, go elsewhere or change your trip. If you can’t change, travel directly to the resort and stay there. DO NOT travel by yourself or explore the island. This is the kind of weird you don’t want!