With dozens of international travel restrictions, nearly all Caribbean countries saw their tourism industries collapse during the tough years of the pandemic.
Forecasters predicted a painfully slow recovery by 2026, but current incredible tourism figures show the sector has not only fully recovered but is also thriving.
At least, that is what leaders reported at the latest annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace held May 20-23 in Jamaica.
Caribbean destinations managed to surpass pre-pandemic arrivals last year when all destinations combined welcomed a staggering 33.2 million travelers, up 14.3 percent compared to 2022, according to data revealed by Nicola Madden-Grieg, president of the event sponsor.
The region is also building 14,000 new hotel rooms and forecasts 5–10 percent growth over the next few years. Let’s check out some country figures.
Jamaica
Between January and February 2024, Jamaica received more than 1 million travelers who brought to the island $1 billion in tourism revenue, “a record that has never happened in the history of Jamaica,” said Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett.
The government projects to receive five million visitors and earn $5 billion by 2025.
To achieve such a milestone, Jamaica is adding 2,000 new hotel rooms to its portfolio, the most ambitious tourism growth plan in the Caribbean in 2024.
Saint Lucia
This laid-back island is also experiencing a flourishing tourism season, with stay-over arrivals up 11.3% in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2023, breaking all records set before the pandemic.
Only in March 2024, the island received the largest number of visitors ever seen in history, said Guibion Ferdinand, parliamentary secretary in Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Tourism.
The country plans to add 2,000 more hotel rooms by next year. It will also expand its port facilities to accommodate 10,000-12,000 more cruise passengers.
Turks & Caicos
Turks & Caicos is another special study case. This tiny Caribbean island has recorded a surge in visitors of over 227 percent since the pandemic.
From January to April, the destination welcomed 271,326 air travelers, up 10.46 percent compared to the same timeframe in 2023. Cruise passengers also experienced a small uptick.
“Data show that our air arrival numbers are projected to remain high through August which indicates that our tourism sector will remain buoyant all year,” said Tourism Minister, Josephine Connolly.
Belize
The analytics firm ForwardKeys recently determined that Belize is seeing outstanding tourism growth, as per their data.
According to the latest report, the country has had a 30 percent increase in international travelers so far in 2024, “the fastest growth rate of any destination in the Caribbean,” beating traditional hotspots like the Dominican Republic and Curacao.
From January to March, the country saw an increase of 17.5 percent compared to the same period before the pandemic.
Cancun
Cancun received 8.21 million travelers between January and April 2024, according to Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR).
This number represents a 6 percent increase compared to the same timeframe last year. This way, the destination is setting a new arrival record.
Dominican Republic
From January to April, the Dominican Republic welcomed 3,039,302 air travelers, 10 percent more compared to the same period last year, and 1,139,381 cruise passengers, 15 percent more than in 2023, breaking all records set in history.
The country is projected to surpass 11 million visitors in 2024, a figure never seen before, according to Minister of Tourism, David Collado.