Caribbean Tourism Outperforms 2019 Benchmarks for Second Consecutive Year

The Caribbean tourism sector demonstrated significant growth in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. International tourist arrivals totaled an estimated 34.2 million, marking a 6.1% increase from 2023 and a 6.9% rise above 2019 levels.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) “Caribbean Tourism Performance Review 2024” showcases the region’s resilience and appeal, amplified by strong demand from the United States, a recovering Canadian market, and improved air connectivity.

In 2024, the region attracted approximately 34.2 million international overnight visitors, a 6.1% increase from 2023 and a 6.9% rise above 2019. The leading destinations were the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba, The Bahamas, Aruba, and Puerto Rico, collectively accounting for 56% of all visitor arrivals to the region.

Source Markets

The United States remained the top source market with approximately 16.8 million arrivals, a 3.5% increase from 2023 and 7.9% above pre-pandemic levels. Canadian arrivals reached 3.3 million, a 4.0% increase compared to 2023, though slightly below 2019. European arrivals showed slower growth, with a 1.4% increase to 5.3 million, representing 89.4% of 2019 levels. Intra-Caribbean travel also grew, thanks to ongoing efforts to enhance air connectivity. The South American market saw the highest growth in 2024, with arrivals reaching 2.0 million, marking a 17.8% increase.

Cruise and Hotel Sector

The Caribbean cruise industry experienced a significant rebound, with 33.7 million cruise visits in 2024, a 10.3% increase over 2023, and a 10.9% increase over pre-pandemic levels. The Caribbean hotel sector also performed strongly, with occupancy rates reaching 66.6%, a 0.8% increase from the previous year, and the Average Daily Rate (ADR) increasing by 4.2% to US$437.02.

Challenges and Future Outlook

CTO’s Director of Research, Aliyyah Shakeer, stated, “Tourism in the Caribbean is expected to grow in 2025. However, due to prevailing economic uncertainties and slowdowns in major source markets during the first quarter of the year, the pace of growth is projected to be more moderate than earlier forecasts suggested.” The outlook for the cruise sector remains positive, with cruise arrivals expected to grow by 5% to 7%, approaching 36 million visitors. The Secretary-General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Dona Regis-Prosper, emphasized the need for strategic investments, innovative partnerships, and sustainable practices to maintain this momentum.