The Caribbean tourism sector is continuing its recovery and expansion. Evidence of this was revealed in a new report by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) that shared 2024 performance statistics.
The report showed that there were 34.2 million arrivals to the region, which represents a 6.9% increase over 2023. This is the second consecutive year that the Caribbean has outperformed the 2019 benchmark.
There were several key highlights from the publication, “Caribbean Tourism Performance Review 2024”. They highlight the region’s resilience, increasing demand from the United States of America, a rebounding Canadian market and enhanced air connectivity.
2024 Highlights for the Caribbean Tourism Sector
The major highlights from the data collected in 2024 include:
- Growth in visitor arrivals: 34.2 million international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) in 2024, an increase of 6.1% over 2023 and 6.9% over 2019.
- Most visited destinations: Dominican Republic (8.5 million arrivals), Jamaica (2.9 million arrivals), Cuba (2.2 million arrivals), The Bahamas (1.9 million arrivals), Aruba (1.4 million arrivals), and Puerto Rico (1.0 million arrivals)
- Destinations with highest year-over-year growth: Montserrat (29.4% growth), St. Vincent & the Grenadines (27.2 % growth), Belize (22.8 % growth), and Curaçao (20.3 % growth)
- Best performing destinations since the pandemic: Curaçao (51.1% increase), St. Maarten (48% increase), U.S. Virgin Islands (41.8% increase).
- Occupancy rates: 66.6%, a 0.8% increase from 2023
- Average daily rate (ADR): Increase of 4.2% to US$437.02.
- Top source market: United States of America with approximately 16.8 million arrivals, a 3.5% increase from 2023 and 7.9% above pre-pandemic levels.
- Highest growth market: South America with 2.0 million arrivals marking a 17.8% increase.
- Cruise sector growth: 33.7 million cruise visits in 2024. A 10.3% increase over 2023, and a 10.9% increase over pre-pandemic levels.
Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization outlined steps to maintain this momentum. She says that the region must “double down on strategic investments, innovative partnerships, and sustainable practices that protect our people, our culture and our environment.”
Aliyyah Shakeer, CTO’s Director of Research, expects moderate growth in 2025. This is because of “prevailing economic uncertainties and slowdowns in major source markets during the first quarter of the year.”
Source: Caribbean Tourism Maintains Strong Growth in 2024, Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Levels (CTO)
Image: Meg von Haartman via Unsplash
