Above: the Grand Residences Riviera Cancun (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Cancun, the number one tourism destination in Mexico, continues to be a force in the regional tourism industry, according to new numbers from the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Last year, Cancun received more than 4.8 million visitors, according to the CVB.

The Cancun and Puerto Morelos Hotel Association reported an average hotel occupancy of 81.6 percent, meaning 3.9 million tourists in the first three quarters of 2014.

That proved to be an economic gain of around $3.3 billion, an increase of 7.5 percent over 2013.

“If 2014 is any indication, we are confident that 2015 will be another record breaking year for Cancun,” said Jesus Almaguer, CEO of the Cancun CVB. “With the rise in interest from airlines from North America and the opening of new hotels and services, as well as the range of international activities and events in 2015, I think it’s safe to predict another great year for Cancun.”

As a reference, Cancun’s numbers make it neck-and-neck with the Dominican Republic as the largest tourism destination on the Caribbean Sea.