A young Cuban who emigrated to Punta Cana on a tourist visa almost two years ago stars in a viral testimony on Instagram in which she claims to have improved her life by working in the Dominican tourist area and openly recommends this experience to other Cubans.
The reel, published by Dominican content creator Roberto Alonso, has amassed over 1,000,000 views and nearly 50,000 likes. In the comments, the young woman identifies herself as Gabriela Espinosa (@im_gabytah) and expresses her gratitude for the opportunity to share her story, with a candor and spontaneity that resonated with thousands of followers.
"I arrived with one hand in front and one hand behind, yes, you could say that," she admits in the interview. Since then, she has been working as a waitress at the Havana restaurant in Bávaro, and she claims that she is doing "really well" in the Dominican Republic, where she is in the process of obtaining her residency.
When the interviewer asks him if he would recommend Punta Cana to a fellow countryman, his response is straightforward: "Here, one can succeed by working and fighting. In the Dominican Republic, one can get ahead."
One of the most notable achievements is having gained financial independence and even being able to bring his father from Cuba. "I live with my dad, who has been here for three months," he shares. Regarding his father's mood in Punta Cana, there is no doubt: "He's as happy as a clam."
The young woman also describes a large Cuban community in the area. In this regard, the comments on the video reflect the impact of the testimony. A Dominican user wrote, "Welcome all Cubans to my beautiful Dominican Republic."
In 2025, the Dominican General Directorate of Migration reported that 1,245 Cubans obtained legal residency in that country. In the first six months of that year, over 43,000 travelers with Cuban passports visited the Dominican Republic, with June setting a monthly record of 19,500 trips.
Punta Cana has established itself as the epicenter of this migration. The high demand for labor in the hotel sector — with an occupancy rate of 85.9% in 2025 — makes the area a magnet for Cubans seeking employment in restaurants, hotels, and tourist services.
This pattern is part of a broader shift in Cuban emigration. The irregular route to North America has drastically closed, while Latin America solidifies as a stable destination for the Cuban exodus.
Filed under: