Caribbean sets new tourism records in 2015

The Caribbean outperformed every major tourism region in the world in setting new arrival and spend records in 2015, including a 4.5 per cent growth in Canadian arrivals, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) announced this week.

International tourist trips to the region grew by seven per cent to 28.7 million visits, higher than the projected four to five per cent growth. Visitors spent an estimated $30 billion, a 4.2 per cent rise over the $28.8 billion spent in 2014.

"So 2015 was the second year in a row that the region has done better than the rest of the world, and the sixth consecutive year of growth for the Caribbean," the CTO's secretary general Hugh Riley revealed in announcing the record performance at a news conference at CTO headquarters.

The Canadian market grew by 4.5 per cent to 3.4 million; Europe accounted for 5.2 million visits, a 4.2 per cent jump over the previous year and South America continued its rapid growth, generating 2.1 million visitors, an 18.3 per cent jump over 2014. Of the 5.2 million European visited, 1.1 million came from the United Kingdom, which recorded a 10.4 per cent rise.

The US, which remains the Caribbean's primary market, accounting for about 50 per cent of arrivals, grew 6.3 per cent to 14.3 million visits. 

Riley attributed the growth to improved global economic conditions in the marketplace; a boost in consumer confidence, particularly in the United States; falling oil prices; rising seat capacity and persistent marketing by CTO member countries and their partners.

The CTO secretary general also announced growth in the cruise sector, although at a slower rate of 1.3 per cent, with 24.4 million cruises in Caribbean waters.

He said the outlook for 2016 was positive with tourist arrivals expected to increase by 4.5 to 5.5 per cent, while cruise is estimated to record one to two per cent growth, as summer redeployment of ships continues.