Tourism to the Dominican Republic has taken a massive hit as the embattled Caribbean nation grapples with an onslaught of reports revealing American tourists are dying and falling sick there in droves.
Trips booked to the island dropped by 74.3% for the months of July and August compared to the same period last year, according to a study from ForwardKeys, which analyzes more than 17 million daily bookings.
The number of trips canceled to the country also increased by 51.2% between June 1 and June 19.
The cancellations spiked by 70% on June 10, the day that 53-year-old Leyla Cox died at a Punta Cana resort. The Staten Island mom’s family was told she died of a heart attack during a birthday trip to the island.
“My deepest sympathies go out to the families of the American tourists who have passed away,” said Olivier Ponti, VP insights of ForwardKeys. “Their recent and tragic deaths appear to have had a dramatic impact on travel to the Dominican Republic. Our analysis of leisure travel shows a striking correlation.”
Though tourism to the Dominican Republic has plummeted, other island getaways have seen a boost in visitors.
Jamaica, the Bahamas and Aruba have all seen an increase in trips booked between June 1 and June 19, according to the study.