Caribbean tourism is continuing to recover and expand. This is revealed in a new report from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), which shares performance statistics for 2024.
The report shows that there were 34.2 million arrivals in the region, an increase of 6.9% compared to 2023. This is the second year in a row that the Caribbean region has exceeded the 2019 benchmark.
There are several key highlights from the Caribbean Tourism Performance Review 2024 publication. They highlighted the region's resilience, growing demand in the United States, rebounding Canadian markets and increasing air connectivity.
Caribbean Tourism Highlights 2024
Key highlights from the data collected in 2024 include:
- tourist arrivals growth: The number of international tourists (overnight visitors) in 2024 will be 34.2 million, an increase of 6.1% compared with 2023 and an increase of 6.9% compared with 2019.
- most visited destinations: Dominican Republic (8.5 million), Jamaica (2.9 million), Cuba (2.2 million), Bahamas (1.9 million), Aruba (1.4 million) and Puerto Rico (1 million)
- Destinations with the highest year-on-year growth: Montserrat (up 29.4%), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (up 27.2%), Belize (up 22.8%) and Curacao (up 20.3%)
- Best-performing destinations since pandemic: Curacao (up 51.1%), St. Maarten (up 48%), U.S. Virgin Islands (up 41.8%).
- Occupancy rate: 66.6%, an increase of 0.8% from 2023
- Average Daily Rate (ADR): increased 4.2% to $437.02.
- Top customer source market: There were approximately 16.8 million arrivals into the United States of America, an increase of 3.5% from 2023 and 7.9% above pre-pandemic levels.
- fastest growing market: The number of arrivals from South America reached 2 million, an increase of 17.8%.
- Cruise industry growth: The number of cruise tourists will reach 33.7 million in 2024. That’s a 10.3% increase from 2023 and a 10.9% increase from pre-pandemic levels.
Caribbean Tourism Organization Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper outlined steps to maintain the momentum. She said the region must “double down on strategic investments, innovative partnerships and sustainable practices to protect our people, culture and environment.”
CTO Research Director Aliyyah Shakeer expects moderate growth in 2025. This was due to “the prevailing economic uncertainty and slowdown in key source markets during the first quarter of the year.”
source: Caribbean tourism to maintain strong growth in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels (CTO)
image: Meg von Hartmann via Unsplash
