With a refreshed image and concept, as well as a venue that offers participants and attendees a more suitable hotel and dining experience for an event of its nature and scale, the Dominican Cigar Expo ushers in a new chapter of the former festival. In its first two editions, the event attracted over 24,000 attendees. Now, this celebration of Dominican tobacco and Cigar Culture will take place from April 25 to 27 at the Parque Central in Santiago de los Caballeros.
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With an extensive background in the tobacco industry, during which he successfully established himself as an industrialist, Don Osvaldo Radhamés Rodríguez, president of Tabacalera El Artista, envisioned creating an organization to help small and medium-sized producers grow and secure their place in the sector.
This goal, set 25 years ago, came to fruition in 2020 with the founding of the Asociación Dominicana de Cigarros y Tabaco (Adocitab), which he chairs: “I remember that only eight people attended our first meeting, but we worked hard, with determination and persistence, and today we have 66 member companies representing over 85% of the country’s cigar producers. That speaks volumes.”
As part of Don Radhamés’ vision, one of the first initiatives of the newly formed organization was to host an unprecedented event in the Dominican Republic in June 2022: the Dominican Cigar Fest. Held in Tamboril, the event brought together tobacco and cigar companies, as well as producers of boxes, bands, and cellophane, alongside government and private enterprises, drawing a crowd of over 12,000 people.
On that occasion, Tamboril –the World Capital of Cigars– was also designated as a Tobacco Municipality. During the opening ceremony, the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader Corona, announced the establishment of a Free Trade Zone to support small and medium-sized tobacco and cigar producers. His presence was historic, as no high-ranking official had ever attended an event of this nature before.
According to Don Radhamés, the association’s goal in organizing a tobacco event was to drive development and showcase many of its members, as well as other participants who joined as exhibitors. The success was evident, as the second edition in November 2023 attracted over 400 international guests who attended the festival to explore products and conduct business.
Adocitab has also made its mark at global industry events, including trade shows in the United States and Germany, as well as origin-focused events in Cuba, Nicaragua, and most recently, Puerto Rico: “So now, the idea is to welcome people from these countries to our event, as a consolidated gathering.”
The Expected Evolution
After two successful editions under the Dominican Cigar Fest name, Adocitab is ready for the third edition of the event, now fully focused on the world of tobacco and rebranded as the Dominican Cigar Expo.
In its first two editions, the event featured a strong musical and entertainment component that attracted audiences not necessarily involved in the tobacco sector.
For 2025, Adocitab members collectively decided that the Dominican Cigar Expo would be a meeting place for business and enthusiasts, created by and for those dedicated to the world of cigars. It will no longer be just a fun festival but an exposition dedicated to the industry, tailored for smokers and those interested in tobacco.
While music will not be entirely removed, it will be limited to the closing of each day’s activities: “Music and dance are ingrained in our Dominican DNA, so we couldn’t eliminate it entirely. We simply reduced its prominence to give the spotlight to tobacco,” explains Don Radhamés.
Internationalization
In this new phase, Adocitab aims to continue growing alongside its more than 60 members. This, they assure, will be achieved through improved professionalism, a stronger public image, and global market outreach.
To this end, the third edition of the Dominican, as it is colloquially known, includes the participation of SAVIT, a company renowned for organizing massive and highly successful events. Their impressive portfolio includes the Bocao Food Fest, the prestigious ProCigar White Dinner Party, and the latest XVI Mundial Confepaso, as well as various medical, finance, and corporate conferences. With a strong reputation in the industry for delivering world-class events, SAVIT brings a wealth of expertise and professionalism to the Dominican Cigar Expo.
They are a serious and highly regarded company in the industry, and their involvement will help solidify the quality leap we are striving for. Their experience in handling large-scale, high-profile events ensures that this year’s edition will reach new heights in excellence, visibility, and overall impact.
Additionally, due to the steady growth of the Dominican over the past two years, the event needed a new, larger venue. Santiago de los Caballeros –just a 15-minute drive from Tamboril– offers the ideal hotel capacity and a wide range of dining options.
This third edition will feature 80 booths hosting exhibitors from all facets of the industry, including tobacco producers, cigar manufacturers, box makers, humidor creators, and band designers, alongside companies specializing in spirits, chocolate, and coffee. Over 12,000 attendees are expected from April 25 to 27 at Santiago’s Parque Central, a spacious venue with interior streets perfectly suited for large fairs, much like the Expo Cibao.
In addition to expanding the event’s visibility and Adocitab’s overall presence, the goal is to internationalize the brand. To achieve this, the Dominican Cigar Expo has confirmed the participation of InterTabac with its own booth, as well as the International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA), while the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) is in talks to join the list of international guests.
This great event is aimed at a select group of guests, including local and international personalities, in which everyone can be part of this great experience in a multisensory environment in the Ciudad Corazón, Santiago, the tobacco capital of the world.
What’s New in 2025
– New location.
– Conference and speakers.
– Roll your own cigar Experience.
– Networking with the tobacco industry.
– Gastronomic proposal.
– Artistic proposal.
– Tasting / Pairings.
– Interaction with each brand’s Master Blenders.
A Supportive Government
Don Radhamés acknowledges the current government’s efforts to support the tobacco sector: “Though I am not a politician, I am not oblivious to the fact that the Dominican Republic has never had a president like Luis Abinader, who has fully supported the tobacco industry, not just with his presence but with tangible backing. Thanks to him, we have achieved many milestones.”
He emphasizes that the President inaugurated the event in its first two editions, “and that speaks volumes about his commitment, as does the designation of tobacco and cigars as Cultural Heritage of our country.”
As the interview concludes, Don Radhamés does not rule out the possibility of establishing a permanent venue for the Dominican Cigar Expo in the future. When asked if creating Adocitab and consolidating the festival would be his legacy, he responds that if he could leave anything to his country, it would be the unity of the national tobacco industry.
