Dominican Rep.: Easter Holy Week March 25 to April 1

Event

Christian Holy Week will take place this year between Sunday, March 25 (Palm Sunday), and Sunday, April 1 (Easter Sunday). Holy Week is a major travel period in the region, when individuals visit family, go on vacation, or go on pilgrimage to religious sites. As such, increased congestion at travel hubs, demand for hotels (and higher prices), and car traffic in cities and on highways is to be anticipated, along with possible business, store, and government office closures.

The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) has stated that 43,000 military personnel, doctors, police officers, and other personnel will be deployed during Holy Week to prevent accidents and ensure the public’s safety. There will be 2733 personnel at aid stations located across the country’s beaches and highways as well as 138 ambulances, 150 immediate response units, 13 helicopters, and six mobile hospitals. As in previous years, the Ministry of Tourism has prohibited the use of motorized water vehicles on beaches from Thursday, March 29, until Monday, April 2, in an effort to reduce the risk of accidents.

Advice

Individuals in the Dominican Republic are advised to exercise increased vigilance in the coming days and to be prepared for increased congestion and longer travel times.