Cuba has long been off limits to most Americans, with US tourists to the country allowed under 12 tightly regulated categories of travel by the US government. The island nation is of great interest to the cruise industry, however, which is dominated in the Caribbean by American passengers.

Even before last week’s rapprochement between the U.S. and Cuba, private equity companies from Bain Capital Partners LLC to billionaire Sam Zell’s Equity International were boosting investments in Caribbean resorts as traditional lenders scaled back operations.

Elite Traveler Magazine has just reported the top ten destinations to enjoy the benefits of private jet charter flights during last year’s peak winter season, which resulted in revenues of $867 million from 12,566 flights. Nassau in The Bahamas, St Maarten and Turks and Caicos led the way.

The merger of TUI AG and TUI Travel PLC has created the world’s number one integrated leisure tourism business. The start of the TUI Group is marked by its shares trading the first day in the premium index FTSE of the London Stock Exchange.