Caribbean tourism surpasses pre-COVD levels again; Cdn arrivals fall short of 2019

Caribbean tourism continued to see robust recovery and expansion in 2024, with international tourist arrivals reaching an estimated 34.2 million, according to a new report from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).

This represents a 6.1 per cent increase compared to 2023, and a 6.9 per cent rise above pre-pandemic levels, marking the second consecutive year that the region has outperformed the 2019 benchmark.

The CTO’s “Caribbean Tourism Performance Review 2024” highlights the region’s resilience and enduring appeal, driven by factors such as strong demand from the United States, a rebounding Canadian market, and enhanced air connectivity.

Key highlights

The Caribbean saw approximately 34.2 million international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) in 2024, an increase of 6.1 per cent over 2023 and 6.9 per cent over 2019, the report says.

The Dominican Republic remained the Caribbean’s most visited destination in 2024, welcoming 8.5 million tourists.

Jamaica followed with 2.9 million arrivals, while Cuba (2.2 million), The Bahamas (1.9 million), Aruba (1.4 million), and Puerto Rico (1.0 million) reported top numbers.

Collectively, the six destinations accounted for approximately 56 per cent of all visitor arrivals to the region.

Year-over-year growth

The highest year-over-year growth in tourist arrivals was recorded in Montserrat, which saw a 29.4 per cent increase, followed by St. Vincent & the Grenadines (27.2 per cent), Belize (22.8 per cent), and Curaçao (20.3 per cent).

These destinations posted the strongest relative gains in visitor numbers across the Caribbean in 2024, the CTO says.

Compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, Curaçao emerged as the best-performing destination with a 51.1 percent increase, followed by St. Maarten with 48 per cent growth, and 41.8 percent in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Canadian arrivals still below 2019 levels

The United States remained the top source market, with approximately 16.8 million arrivals, a 3.5 per cent increase from 2023 and 7.9 per cent above pre-pandemic levels.

Canadian arrivals reached 3.3 million, a 4.0 per cent increase compared to 2023, though still slightly below 2019 levels.

European arrivals showed slower growth, with a 1.4 per cent increase to 5.3 million, representing 89.4% of 2019 levels.

Residents of the Caribbean took an estimated 1.6 million tourist trips within the region – an increase of 5.1 per cent over 2023, though still only 79.2 per cent of pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019.

The South American market saw the highest growth in 2024, with arrivals reaching 2.0 million by the end of the year, marking a 17.8 per cent increase.

Cruise boom  

The Caribbean cruise industry experienced a significant rebound, with 33.7 million cruise visits in 2024, a 10.3 per cent increase over 2023, and a 10.9 per cent increase over pre-pandemic levels.

Hotel stays

The Caribbean hotel sector also performed strongly, with occupancy rates reaching 66.6 per cent, a 0.8 per cent increase from the previous year, and the Average Daily Rate (ADR) increasing by 4.2 per cent to US$437.02.

Challenges & future outlook

The pace of growth is projected to be more moderate this year, said Aliyyah Shakeer, CTO’s Director of Research, in a press release.

This is due to “prevailing economic uncertainties and slowdowns in major source markets during the first quarter of the year,” Shakeer said.

The CTO anticipates that overnight visitor arrivals will increase by two to five per cent, reaching approximately 35 million.

The outlook for the cruise sector remains positive, with cruise arrivals expected to grow by five to seven per cent, approaching 36 million visitors.

“The Caribbean’s continued growth is a testament to the strength of our regional collaboration and the enduring appeal of our destinations,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, in a statement.

“Despite geopolitical uncertainty and global economic challenges, our sector has shown remarkable resilience. To maintain this momentum, we must double down on strategic investments, innovative partnerships, and sustainable practices that protect our people, our culture and our environment. The future of Caribbean tourism is not only bright – it is ours to shape,” she added.

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