The Caribbean tourism sector continues to recover and expand. Evidence of this emerged in a new report from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), which shared performance statistics for 2024.
According to the report, 34.2 million people arrived in the region, a 6.9% increase compared to 2023. This marks the second consecutive year that the Caribbean region has outperformed its 2019 benchmark.
The “Caribbean Tourism Performance Review 2024” publication had several key highlights. This highlights the region’s resilience, growing demand in the United States, the recovery of Canadian markets and improved air connectivity.
Caribbean Tourism Sector Highlights for 2024
Highlights of data collected in 2024 include:
- Increased visitor arrivals: Overseas tourist arrivals (accommodation visitors) in 2024 will be 34.2 million, an increase of 6.1% compared to 2023 and 6.9% compared to 2019.
- Most visited destinations: Dominican Republic (8.5 million people), Jamaica (2.9 million people), Cuba (2.2 million people), Bahamas (1.9 million people), Aruba (1.4 million people), Puerto Rico (1 million people)
- Destinations with the highest year-on-year growth: Montserrat (29.4% growth), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (27.2% growth), Belize (22.8% growth), Curaçao (20.3% growth)
- Best-performing destinations since the pandemic: Curaçao (51.1% increase), Saint-Martin (48% increase), U.S. Virgin Islands (41.8% increase)
- share: 66.6%, 0.8% increase compared to 2023
- Average Daily Rate (ADR): US$437.02, up 4.2%.
- Top Source Market: The number of arrivals to the United States was approximately 16.8 million, a 3.5% increase compared to 2023 and a 7.9% increase from pre-pandemic levels.
- Markets with the highest growth: South America increased by 17.8% to 2 million.
- Growth of the Cruise Sector: Number of cruise visits in 2024: 33.7 million. A 10.3% increase compared to 2023 and a 10.9% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Board, outlined measures to maintain this momentum. She said the region must “double down on strategic investments, innovative partnerships and sustainable practices that protect our people, culture and environment.”
Aliyyah Shakeer, CTO’s research director, expects moderate growth in 2025. This is due to “pervasive economic uncertainty and slowdown in key source markets during the first quarter of this year.”
source: Caribbean tourism maintains strong growth beyond pre-pandemic levels in 2024 (CTO)
video: Meg von Haartman via Unsplash
