Tourism is booming in the Dominican Republic, and buyers are snapping up Punta Cana real estate and properties in other resort areas.

The Dominican Republic (DR) is more affordable than other Caribbean countries, whether one is looking for a vacation or a property for investment or as a residence. The white beaches and blue ocean is attractive to people who want to kick back and relax, and the DR also now claims a number of golf resorts for those looking for a sporting vacation.

(Learn more at the official Dominican Republic Tourism Web site.)

The Dominican Republic is on the island of Hispaniola, occupying the eastern two-thirds of it (Haiti is the other third). Hispaniola is east of Cuba and Jamaica and west of Puerto Rico.

Punta Cana, on the eastern tip of the DR, is the country's major tourist resort area, although other coastal areas have been seeing more development. Punta Cana real estate values are aided by the fact that Punta Cana has its own airport, which is said to receive more passengers on some days than the airport in Santo Domingo, the nation's capital.

You can learn more about the DR and Dominican Republic real estate at the official site above and at Dominican Today, an English-language news Web site.