By all accounts, 2024 was as good of a year as the Caribbean has had—even topping its previous record-setting 2019 (in terms of visitor arrivals). As the islands complete their tallies for 2024 visitation numbers, it seems there is a new high-water mark for future comparisons. Beyond that, however, many islands are bolstering airlift, seeing new and renovated hotel projects debut and focusing on sustainable growth to continue the buzz in their destinations.
Here’s the latest on just a few of the islands reporting strong growth in 2024:
Antigua and Barbuda
The Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Tourism and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) celebrated 2024 as an exceptional year for tourism during a recent “Year in Review” press conference. According to the latest data, Antigua and Barbuda welcomed over 330, 281 stay-over visitors for the year and over 823,955 cruise passengers, surpassing previous records (set in 2019). The United States market led the growth in stayover arrivals, with strong performances also from the United Kingdom and Europe, Caribbean and Latin America, and Canada markets.
Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation & Investment Charles Fernandez attributed the growth to “our efforts to strengthen connectivity, position Antigua and Barbuda as a regional hub with two international airports, expand our hotel and accommodation offerings, invest in human capital, and stay on top our game.”
Antigua and Barbuda saw significant expansion in airlift during 2024, with increased service from American Airlines, Delta and JetBlue, as well as the return of Condor and the introduction of Sunrise Airways. British Airways also increased service to the destination. The Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association also reported increased hotel occupancy in 2024, exceeding that of 2019.
Looking to 2025, foodies can enjoy a new "Antigua and Barbuda Culinary Month" in May, which will see the expansion of culinary events to include Antigua and Barbuda Restaurant Week, FAB Fest, Food Forum and Eat Like A Local, in a move to make Antigua and Barbuda, “a new culinary hotspot in the Caribbean.”
Antigua and Barbuda this year will also host the Caribbean Hotels and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace from May 18 to 22.
Lastly, ABTA announced the launch of a revamped destination website, www.visitantiguabarbuda.com. New features of the website include a personalized viewing experience, best flight options to get to the destination and special offers listings.
British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) reached “an extraordinary milestone” in 2024, welcoming over 1 million visitors to the archipelago for the first time since 2016. In short, tourism numbers are at an all-time high since the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
According to the Central Statistics Office, total visitor arrivals surged to 1,092,139 in 2024, a 9.8 percent increase compared to 994,896 in 2023. Growth was reflected in all visitor categories with cruise ship visitors seeing a 6.8 percent, overnight visitors seeing a 16.7 percent increase and day-trippers seeing a 35.1 percent.
“These impressive results highlight the diversity of our tourism offerings and reflect our commitment to creating exceptional experiences for all types of visitors,” said Dr. Natalio Wheatly, premier of the Virgin Islands.
After a seven-year journey of recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria and 2017 and the global pandemic, 2025 is expected to be a marquee year for the BVI with numerous new developments and revitalizations. Peter Island Resort reopened in December 2024 after a full restoration; the Bitter End Yacht Club will debut four luxury Beach Bungalows and eight additional Marina lofts, plus an 18-room boutique hotel; and Biras Creek Resort has been reimagined as Biras Marina & Resort. In addition, it is now easier to get to the destination than ever before with the first-ever nonstop flights from Miami to Tortola daily, on American Airlines.
Good to know: The government of the BVI says it remains committed to fostering sustainable tourism practices and enhancing infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of visitors. Efforts to preserve the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the islands remain a top priority.
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands ended 2024 on a high note, welcoming 437,842 stayover visitors between January and December 2024, representing a 2 percent increase over 2023’s numbers.
March 2024 saw the second highest number of arrivals ever for the destination with 57,040 stayover visitors. December was also a standout month with 52,046 stayover visitors—the second highest number of visitors for December in recorded history and an increase of 4.3 percent year-over-year.
Revenue generated by tourism accommodation taxes and fees for January to November 2024 was approximately KYD $38.5 million, which was an 8 percent increase over the same period in 2023. These revenues were bolstered by a 9 percent rise in the average daily rate (ADR) of hotel rooms from January to November 2024 over the same period in 2023 according to STR Inc.
Demand for travel to the destination remained buoyant despite the challenges of an unusually active hurricane season, which saw the Cayman Islands impacted by significant rainfall and other adverse weather from a tropical disturbance in June and four named storms between July and November.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Cayman Islands saw a significant increase in its airlift between January and December 2024 with 884,279 airline seats, an increase of 8 percent over 2023, and 5,342 flights into the destination, an increase of 461 flights over 2023.
In the U.S. this increase was driven by United Airlines with expanded service from Newark, Washington, D.C. and Houston. Delta Air Lines increased its flights from Atlanta, while JetBlue Airways increased its Boston capacity.
In 2024, the destination's room inventory increased by 578 bedrooms to 8,356 with the addition of VIDA Cayman Islands and Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman to the islands' hotel portfolio. VIDA Cayman Islands brings a new boutique, luxury experience to the destination, attracting an affluent visitor looking for wellness and adventure. Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman, on the other hand, is the third IHG Hotels & Resorts property in the destination.
Curaçao
Following a record-breaking 2024, the Dutch Caribbean Island of Curaçao is ready to usher in a new year with continued efforts that expand and improve current offerings. The island welcomed 213,360 North American arrivals in 2024, a 23 percent increase over 2023. To accommodate the steady increase, Curaçao is stepping into 2025 with a fresh roster of offerings to entice travelers to visit.
The most recent addition to the flight lineup includes the introduction of a new gateway, Fort Lauderdale International Airport, now offering four weekly, non-stop flights on Azul Airlines. Additionally, in November the island welcomed an increase from a weekly flight to daily service on Delta from Atlanta. These additions round out the already existing non-stop flights available from New York, Newark, Charlotte and Miami airports, in addition to Toronto and Montreal out of Canada.
The brand-new Art Hotel Curaçao is slated to open at the beginning of 2025, bringing a fusion of luxury and culture to the trendy Pietermaai district. With 30 rooms, the adults-only boutique hotel is a collaboration between local artist Cas Aalbers and the international design studio Piet Boon.
In addition, Dreams Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino is tapping into the adults-only market with a brand-new Preferred Club, Il Mare, with access exclusively for guests staying in the Preferred Club Mare Beachfront Bungalow and Preferred Club Mare Premium Beachfront Bungalow room categories. The club includes butler service and amenities like an infinity pool, a Mediterranean restaurant and chic pool bar. Dedicated programming includes Papiamentu language lessons, Sip and Paint events and more. Guests will also have complete access to everything at Dreams Curaçao and Zoëtry Curaçao Resort & Spa next door.
Other recent hotel enhancements include the historic Avila Beach Hotel, which renovated its oceanfront rooms; Baoase Luxury Resort, which unveiled redesigned accommodations; an expansion to Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort’s Salty Iguana Ocean Grill; and property and retail expansions at Elements Hotel & Shops Curaçao and Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort.
Beyond renovations and redesigns, island hoteliers and partners remain committed to preserving Curaçao’s natural and cultural heritage. The Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort has announced a new partnership with the Reef Renewal Foundation to become a hub for a coral nursery and educational marine initiatives. At Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort, art plays a central role in celebrating the local community and the hotel has teamed up with renowned Curaçaoan artist Francis Sling, who will open a retail space at the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rif Fort, and create a mural within the historic structure.
Hòfi Mango, a former plantation-turned-historic park dotted with thousands of mango trees, hiking trails, and the impressive “Hand of God” artwork is partnering with the Sandals Foundation to create a Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden at the park. The $50,000 initiative will transform a section of the park into a vibrant sanctuary, dedicated to promoting environmental education and supporting local ecosystems. Changes entail rehabilitation to a dedicated area, installation of native plants, a sustainable irrigation system, and a specially designed layout to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is emerging as the destination to watch in the Caribbean, with a record-breaking growth rate in stayover arrivals for 2024, up some 25 percent from its 2023 numbers.
The announcement was made in mid-January by the country’s minister of tourism, Hon. Carlos James. According to Minister James, the destination surpassed its target, jumping to a 25.6 percent increase in stayover arrivals year-on-year and a 39 percent increase over 2019, one of the country’s best years on record. Specifically, stayover arrivals for the first time in the country’s tourism reached over 100,000 (reaching 101,471 visitors).
Minister James attributed the destination’s strong growth performance to a number of factors, primarily a sharp increase in airlift, with four new carriers added in Q4 of 2024; a burgeoning yachting and cruise sector; and increased hotel development and expansion such as the new Sandals Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, La Vue Hotel and Mayah’s Suite, among others.
For 2025, the minister stated that the destination plans to keep this momentum going, with plans for additional room stock underway, including Marriott Hotel breaking ground this year with an added 250 rooms. Among the new air carriers in 2024 were Sunrise, LIAT 2020, WINAIR and JetBlue, which increased the destination’s capacity out of New York-JFK.
Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos attracted close to 2 million arrivals in 2024. Specifically, the multi-island destination saw 1,959,563 arrivals across air and cruise from January to December 2024. There were 734,308 air arrivals, a 10.66 percent year-over-year increase from 2023 while cruise passengers topped 1.25 million, a whopping 30.48 percent year-over-year increase.
A focus in 2024 was Experience Turks and Caicos’ enhanced relationships with travel advisors. Experience Turks and Caicos engaged in training and education sessions with travel advisors virtually and in-person.
Going forward, new properties and expanding room count are expected to drive continued visitor excitement. The 92-room South Bank by Grace Bay Resorts opened on November 1, while The Strand opened on November 23. The Palms reopened in December following an $18 million renovation, which includes the opening of a new Mexican-fusion restaurant called Si Si and a reimagined pool deck with an oceanfront infinity pool, while The Alexandra Resort also reopened with updates that included 41 Oceanfront and Garden Suites and Studios.
United States Virgin Islands
The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism in January announced record-breaking passenger arrival numbers. Closing out the year on a high, December 28 recorded 4,606 passenger arrivals, surpassing the single-day arrival record set earlier in March 2024. This achievement also led to a new weekly passenger arrival record, with over 24,000 arrivals, marking a 5.92 percent increase over the previous record.
In 2024, combined airline arrivals at Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix totaled 932,265 passengers. This figure surpassed the previous record set during the Covid-19 pandemic by over 100,000 passengers and represented a 16.5 percent increase compared to 2023.
The newly released numbers culminate a year of exponential tourism growth for the U.S. Virgin Islands, including a record-breaking month of arrivals in March with 106,026, and the introduction or return of airline routes from American Airlines, Cape Air, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country and United Airlines.
The territory also experienced a significant boost in cruise passengers, welcoming 1,770,922 guests, resulting in a 9.8 percent increase compared to 2023. The increase in cruise arrivals highlights the ongoing efforts of the Department of Tourism and local partners to strengthen and foster relationships across the industry.
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