caribbean growth 2019
Above: Rendezvous Bay in Anguilla.
News

Caribbean Forecasting Strong Tourism Growth in 2019

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - February 15, 2019 - 11:43 am

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Caribbean region is projecting strong tourism growth in 2019, regional tourism officials said this week.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization is forecasting arrival growth of between 6 and 7 percent this year, continuing what it said was an upward trend that began last September.

“We are projecting that tourist arrivals will increase by between six and seven per cent in 2019, as the damaged infrastructure in the hurricane-impacted destinations returns to capacity. Similarly, cruise arrivals should expand by a further four per cent to five per cent,” sad Ryan Skeete the CTO’s acting director of research.

Last year, 29.9 million people visited the Caribbean, the second-highest total on record after the 30.6 million who visited in 2017.

While that was a decline, it was better than the anticipated three to four percent falloff envisioned following the storms of 2017.

“Even the destinations that were severely impacted by the 2017 hurricanes, despite registering overall double-digit declines last year, experienced a significant turnaround during the last four months, registering triple-digit increases during this period,” Skeete said.

Canada was the strongest performing market, with a 5.7 percent increase in tourist visits to 3.9 million.

The United States accounted for 13.9 million visits, a 6.3 percent decline – although U.S. visits were up by 28 percent in the fourth quarter, reflecting the strong turnaround at the end of the year.

— CJ

Popular Posts antigua long bay

25 Perfect Caribbean Beaches to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

There’s nothing like a Caribbean beach in summer. The crowds thin out, the winds relax, and the islands start breathing in a different way. The beaches you thought you knew feel new again— stretches of sand once packed with winter […]


The 15 Best Hotels in Trinidad and Tobago, From Hidden Eco-Retreats to Luxury Towers

trinidad and tobago hotels where to stay

From Port of Spain to Tobago’s quiet coasts, these are the places to check in now No two Caribbean islands are quite like Trinidad and Tobago—and no two hotels here feel the same. This is a destination of contrast: Carnival […]


This Marriott All-Inclusive Resort Is Coming to Barbados —  And You Can Book It With Points

new brand for the caribbean

Barbados has long been a haven for adults in search of refinement — the kind of place where luxury and culture blend in quiet, confident harmony. Now, that ethos is becoming the foundation of a new resort concept that aims […]


Related Posts guadeloupe is an island hopping paradise

Why Guadeloupe Is a Caribbean Island Hopping Paradise

Guadeloupe isn’t one island—it’s a self-contained archipelago of six inhabited isles (and countless islets and cays), each with its own rhythm, landscape, and identity. Set in the French Caribbean, Guadeloupe is unified by a strong Creole and French heritage, yet […]


The Story from the Latest Caribbean Hotel Data: Occupancy Lower, Rates Up Slightly 

montego bay

Caribbean hotel occupancy is declining. We won’t sugarcoat it (although it’s far more market-dependent, with many islands actually seeing climbs). But overall, region-wide, it’s down. That’s the story from the latest data from STR.  Occupancy in May was 61.7 percent […]


Traveling from Canada to Cancun? There’s a New Way to Get There. 

canada cancun

There’s a new way to get from Canada to Cancun in the Mexican Caribbean. Porter Airlines is expanding its network into sun destinations for the first time, with new flights to Cancun from Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton set to launch […]