Jamaica the second most visited destination in the Caribbean in 2024
Island welcomed 2.9 million stopover visitors
Published:Friday | May 2, 2025 | 12:05 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Based on statistics provided by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Jamaica once again emerged as one of the Caribbean’s tourism powerhouses last year, attracting 2.9 million stopover visitors, which made the island the second most visited destination in the region, trailing only the Dominican Republic, which saw 8.5 million tourist arrivals.
The data forms part of the CTO’s newly released Caribbean Tourism Performance Review 2024, which reveals that the region welcomed a total of 34.2 million international stopover visitors last year, a 6.1 per cent increase over 2023, and 6.9 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. These figures do not include cruise ship passengers, whose numbers were reported separately.
“The Caribbean’s continued growth is a testament to the strength of our regional collaboration and the enduring appeal of our destinations,” said CTO Secretary General Dona Regis-Prosper. “Despite geopolitical uncertainty and global economic challenges, our sector has shown remarkable resilience.”
Collectively, six destinations – the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba, The Bahamas, Aruba, and Puerto Rico – accounted for more than half of the region’s total stopover arrivals. Smaller islands also saw notable growth, with Montserrat leading the year-over-year increase at 29.4 per cent, followed by St Vincent & the Grenadines, Belize, and Curaçao.
The United States remained the dominant source market, sending 16.8 million visitors to the Caribbean in 2024, up 3.5 per cent from the previous year and nearly eight per cent above 2019 levels. Canada rebounded with 3.3 million visitors, showing a four per cent increase year-over-year, while European arrivals grew modestly by 1.4 per cent, reaching 89.4 per cent of 2019 levels.
Intra-Caribbean travel also gained momentum, with 1.6 million trips recorded — a 5.1 per cent rise from 2023, though still trailing pre-pandemic volumes. South America emerged as the fastest growing market, driven by strong demand from countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia. Arrivals from the continent rose 17.8 per cent to two million, nearly 20 per cent ahead of 2019’s figures.
Cruise tourism posted a strong rebound, with 33.7 million cruise visits in 2024, a 10.3 per cent increase over 2023, and 10.9 per cent higher than 2019. The hotel sector followed suit, recording an average occupancy rate of 66.6 per cent, while average daily rates climbed 4.2 per cent to US$437.02.
Looking ahead, CTO’s Director of Research, Aliyyah Shakeer, anticipates more moderate growth in 2025, citing economic uncertainties in key markets.
“Tourism in the Caribbean is expected to continue growing in 2025,” she said. “However, the pace of growth is projected to be slower, with overnight arrivals expected to rise between two per cent and five per cent.”
The forecast places 2025’s total overnight visitors at approximately 35 million, while cruise arrivals could climb to nearly 36 million, an increase of five per cent to seven per cent.
Regis-Prosper emphasised the importance of continued investment and sustainability in shaping the region’s future.
“To maintain this momentum, we must double down on strategic investments, innovative partnerships, and sustainable practices that protect our people, our culture, and our environment. The future of Caribbean tourism is not only bright, it is ours to shape.”