Curaçao, Belize and St Vincent Are the Caribbean’s Fastest-Growing Travel Hotspots

Sun, sand and sea are more popular than ever. But that’s just the beginning of the story for a Caribbean region that is hotter than ever: the Caribbean tourism industry continues to soar, exceeding even its pre-pandemic heights.

In 2024, the Caribbean welcomed approximately 34.2 million international overnight visitors, marking an impressive 6.1 percent increase compared to 2023 and nearly 7 percent more than the record numbers seen in 2019.

The Dominican Republic once again secured its position as the Caribbean’s top destination, drawing in 8.5 million tourists, while Jamaica followed with 2.9 million arrivals. Other major destinations rounding out the top spots included Cuba with 2.2 million visitors, The Bahamas with 1.9 million, Aruba welcoming 1.4 million, and Puerto Rico reaching 1 million. Together, these six popular spots accounted for around 56 percent of all visitor arrivals in the region.

But the strongest growth was observed in some of the region’s smaller islands. Montserrat recorded a striking 29.4 percent increase year-over-year, closely followed by St Vincent & the Grenadines with 27.2 percent growth. The latter was buoyed by what we’ve called the “Sandals Effect,” with the opening of the country’s Sandals St Vincent and the Grenadines last spring.

Belize surged by 22.8 percent, while Curaçao saw a 20.3 percent jump. Curaçao stood out, posting a huge 51.1 percent rise over its 2019 pre-pandemic visitor numbers, along with strong rebounds in St. Maarten at48 percent growth and the U.S. Virgin Islands, at 41.8 percent increase, respectively.

The United States remained the dominant source market, accounting for 16.8 million visitors—up 3.5 percent from the previous year and nearly 8 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels. Canadian visits also increased by 4 percent to reach 3.3 million, nearing pre-pandemic norms. European travelers returned at a slower pace, numbering 5.3 million, representing just under 90 percent of 2019 figures.

The South American market emerged as a new growth engine, delivering a 17.8 percent increase, reaching 2 million arrivals total. Improved stability and strong demand from markets like Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia contributed significantly to this surge.

Intra-Caribbean travel, bolstered by enhanced regional connectivity, also picked up pace, rising 5.1 percent year-over-year, though still below pre-pandemic levels.

Meanwhile, the Caribbean cruise sector also saw a strong recovery, hosting 33.7 million cruise visits in 2024—a 10.3 percent rise from 2023 and nearly 11 percent higher than 2019.

Hotels across the region saw stronger performance too, with occupancy rates climbing slightly to 66.6 percent. The average daily hotel rate also rose, hitting $437.02—a 4.2 percent increase from 2023.