montserrat tourism milestone
Caribbean

Cruise Growth Helps Montserrat Top Tourism Milestone

By: Dana Niland - February 1, 2020 - 12:32 pm

Strong cruise growth has helped the tiny island of Montserrat to set top a significant tourism milestone. 

For the first time since the eruption of Montserrat’s Soufriere Hills Volcano in 1995, Montserrat welcomed more than 20,000 cruise and stayover visitors last year, according to Montserrat tourism officials. 

That number was driven by a 59 percent increase in cruise visits; stayover arrivals grew by 2 percent in the same period. 

Montserrat did not reveal the breakdown between cruise and stayover visitors, however. 

montserrat tourism milestone
Montserrat’s Vue Point Hotel.

“We’re thrilled that we’ve been able to surpass the threshold of 20,000 visitors,” said Montserrat Director of Tourism, Warren Solomon. “It tells us that we’re on the right track with our marketing initiatives and that if we are able to be consistent in our delivery, we could continue the growth trend.”

On the stayover side, the Caribbean region led the way, generating 19 percent of total stayover visits, followed by the UK, which accounted for 13.4 percent and the US, which accounted for 12.6 percent.

The tourism data released by the Statistics Department also revealed a one percent growth in visitor spend, amounting to $27 million.

Montserrat’s Tourism Division said it was confident that its product development initiatives, some of which include enhancements to the trail network and beach facilities, service training in the tourism sector and the construction of a Volcano Interpretive Center, would stimulate increased activity and spending by visitors to the island.

“We recently launched a new survey tool that will capture both the sentiments of our visitors, as well as more accurate estimates of their expenditure,” noted Product Development Officer, Rosetta West-Gerald, “This will allow us to better understand both the positive or negative impacts of our product offerings and make adjustments where necessary.”

— 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 […]


Royal Caribbean’s New Cruise Ship Has a Rooftop Bar, a Waterpark and the Largest Pool at Sea

star of the seas

You step into a glass dome floating high above the ocean. To your right, divers plunge from platforms. Above, aerialists twist through light. Somewhere behind you, a DJ is spinning beside a suspended infinity pool. This isn’t a dream — […]


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 […]


Related Posts jetblue beach caribbean island

Travelers Continue to Flock to the Caribbean Island of Bonaire

Tourism to Bonaire posted strong growth in June, according to new data provided to Caribbean Journal by Tourism Corporation Bonaire. The island welcomed 13,606 stayover visitors last month, a 12.2 percent increase over the same period in 2024, when 12,117 visitors arrived. Diving into […]


The CHTA IS Bringing CHIEF and Taste of the Caribbean to Barbados

best barbados resorts

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association has officially announced the return of two of the region’s most anticipated hospitality events: the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) and Taste of the Caribbean. Both events will take place from November 16–18, […]


This All-Inclusive Caribbean Vacation Is the Ultimate Solo Travel Experience

all-inclusive caribbean vacation solo

You arrive alone, but you’re not on your own. That’s the quiet magic of this four-night all-inclusive escape designed specifically for solo travelers — a curated experience at a breezy, beachfront Caribbean resort that knows what it means to travel […]