@Caleb Heimsoth
Are we going to succumb to media sensationalism? Are we not above that on BiggerPockets? Do you know how many US tourists go to the Dominican Republic each year? Do you know what percentage those 10 people represent? By the way, these deaths are over a period of a few months. Do you know what's the murder rate in New York or Los Angeles? Are you not going to visit or invest in those cities because of that? Don't you think you have higher odds of getting shot by doing your groceries almost anywhere in the US than being poisoned in the Dominican Republic?
While the cause of the death is still being investigated on the US side, the Dominican government says the death are from natural causes (obviously they have a vested interest in saying so). But the fact is we don't know for sure yet. It is a problem in that it results in some US tourists redirecting their holidays to some other places as long as the issue isn't fully resolved.
Regardless, the Dominican government has proven times and times again in the past that they will do whathever they have to to guarantee the security of the tourists in the country.
@Jim K.
If that was your experience, I can understand your initial reaction. I went to Santo Domingo and stayed in the Zona Colonial and I had absolutely no issues and actually didn't see any police anywhere. I went to meetings to places where tourists don't go and I had no issues there either, apart from the fact that the traffic was crazy at rush hours. I went to some beach towns and was walking alone in the middle of the night (even in places that were not too busy) and I never feel threatened. I'm met many girls traveling alone saying the same thing. So please don't generalize.
Just look at the impressive statistics of the tourism growth in the Dominican Republic over the last 20 years. Do you think US tourists would go there in droves if it was that dangerous or unpleasant.
Don't take my word for it though. The US government issues travel advisories when it could be dangerous for US citizens to travel somewhere. Even after the deaths mentioned by Caleb, the Dominican Republic is still at level 2, which is the same level as the UK, Germany or France!!
It's thanks to frightened people that people like me are still able to find incredible deals in the Dominican Republic after 20 years of uninterrupted tourism growth. It's like in the US in 2008, you could get unbelievable deals because most people were frightened. Maybe the same people who have been waiting to buy high in 2019 and will sell low in the next downturn.
Don't get me wrong, when I heard first about the deaths and when I hear stories like Jim K's, I get this visceral reaction of doubt. But then I get the facts right, go over my fears and stay the course. Like everywhere, this makes the difference between taking action and watch others making money while on the sidelines.