Abolishment of the Tourist Entry Tax – Open Island Policy

Republica Dominicana
Presidential Decree No. 023-DR
Issued by: Future DR President Candidate

Subject: Abolishment of the Tourist Entry Tax – Open Island Policy

Effective Immediately

To promote tourism, restore transparency, and end unnecessary financial barriers for international visitors, this decree officially eliminates the tourist entry tax charged upon arrival or integrated into airline tickets.

Article 1 – Immediate Termination of Tourist Tax

  1. The US$10 Tourist Card Entry Fee currently charged to all foreign visitors is hereby abolished.
  2. Airlines, travel platforms, and border agencies must cease collecting this fee immediately and update systems accordingly.

Article 2 – Full Refund Process for Recent Visitors

  1. Any tourist who paid this tax in the past 60 days shall be eligible for a full refund via the Ministry of Tourism refund portal.
  2. Refunds shall be processed within 30 business days upon submission of proof of payment.

Article 3 – One Island, Open Welcome Campaign

  1. A global campaign titled “One Island. Open Welcome.” will be launched to promote:
    • Visa-free travel
    • Fee-free entry
    • Transparent tourism policies
  2. This will include:
    • Social media outreach
    • Airport billboards
    • Embassy press releases
    • Partnership with major travel platforms

Article 4 – Tourism Revenue Shift

  1. To offset the removal of the tourist tax, the Dominican government will:
    • Increase hotel VAT collection compliance
    • Launch new eco-tourism, cultural, and luxury tax zones (voluntary, high-tier experiences only)
    • Expand local tourism services that generate direct revenue

Article 5 – Legal Ban on Reinstating Entry Fees

  1. No government entity, ministry, or foreign contract may reinstate a mandatory entry fee or tourism head tax without:
    • Full public referendum
    • Approval by the National Senate
    • Independent economic impact review

This island opens its arms, not its hand. From today forward, the Dominican Republic will compete with value, not with hidden fees. Welcome to a new era of travel freedom.

Signed,
Future DR President Candidate
President of the Dominican Republic
Date: Day One, Term One