Caribbean Tourism Reports Arrivals “Flat” in First Half of 2013

Destinations tracked by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) attracted 15.6 million overnight, land-based visitors between January and July of 2013, a total described as “relatively flat” compared with the same period in 2012, according to CTO officials.

Of the 26 Caribbean countries reporting tourist arrivals for the period, 17 reported increases, with Guyana, Haiti and Montserrat all posting double-digit growth. Anguilla, Aruba, Belize, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, St. Kitts and Nevis and Suriname all reported increase of more than five percent.

The Dominican Republic, with 3.31 million arrivals during the period, led all Caribbean destinations in overnight arrivals followed by Cuba (1.99 million), Jamaica (1.26 million), Puerto Rico (731,959) and the Bahamas (730,988). Conversely, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the U.S. Virgin Islands all reported overnight visitor decreases of more than 5 percent.

CTO reported 13.4 million cruise ship visitors arrived at the 22 Caribbean destinations tracked between January and August of 2013. The Bahamas, with 2.78 million arrivals, led all destinations followed by Cozumel, Mexico (1.84 million), the U.S. Virgin Islands (1.32 million), St. Maarten (1.01 million) and the Cayman Islands (859,850).

Among cruise destinations, Aruba, Barbados, Curacao, the Dominican Republic and St. Vincent and the Grenadines all reported cruise visitor increases between 11 and 28 percent while Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Dominica and the Turks and Caicos all reported double-digit decreases.

Source: Travel Pulse, http://www.travelpulse.com/caribbean-tourism-reports-arrivals-flat-in-first-half-of-2013.html