U.S. visitor numbers to the Caribbean down year-on-year
The devastating effect of last year’s hurricanes has led to a downturn in overall U.S. visitor figures to the Caribbean.
Latest figures show an overall 15.8% decrease in U.S. visitors in the first half of the year, to seven million visits, when compared to the corresponding period last year.
The downturn is due mainly to a 54.6% fall in arrivals to Puerto Rico and decreases in arrivals to Cuba.
However, Jamaica (pictured, below) reported growth of 8.4%, the Dominican Republic was up by 6.3% and 11 other destinations achieved growth, six of which were by double digits.
There was a new record in arrivals from Canada for this time of year, with 2.4 million overnight international tourists, representing a 4.7% increase.
Arrivals from Europe also increased, though marginally at 0.3%, with three million tourists visiting the Caribbean during the first half of the year.
There was also a marginal decline of 0.5% in overall cruise visits, although there are signs of improvement, with cruise holidays projected to grow by 5-6% this year.
The figures were announced by new CTO chairman Dominic Fedee, who was elected to the position on Tuesday.
Speaking at the CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry conference in the Bahamas, Fedee said: "On the region’s tourism performance, it has been a tale of two situations. On the one hand, we have robust growth in countries that were not affected by last year’s hurricanes.
On the other, we have seen dramatic decreases in arrivals to those hit by the storms, although the performances of these countries are steadily improving."
He added: "I’m convinced that a well-supported, well-funded, CTO can take its place alongside other venerable institutions to lift the people of the Caribbean to incredible heights that are attainable but not yet achieved.
"The organisation’s leadership in tourism and its contribution to the development of our human resources will help drive strong economies and build reliable, competent and productive workforces and Caribbean populations that are ready to face an ever-changing global environment."
The first phase of the CTO’s new The Rhythm Never Stops campaign is launching next week, funded by a public-private partnership.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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