Above: Belize

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Belize received 527,037 cruise passengers in the first half of 2014, according to data released by the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

That represented a 36.9 percent increase over the first six months of 2013, according to CTO data.

It was also the largest increase in cruise visits by any Caribbean destination with complete reporting for the first half, according to an analysis by Caribbean Journal.

The next-highest increase was that of Cozumel, which saw a 19.4 percent increase in the same period.

Belize was also among the fastest-growing destinations in the region on the stopover side, with 185,996 arrivals and an 11.8 percent growth rate.