CubaPLUS Magazine

José Luis Perelló, Cuban professor and researcher, highlighted on Monday the growth potential of the Caribbean in tourism for the upcoming year.

In an article published by the Italian specialized publication Travel Trade Caribbean (TTC), he noted that at the end of 2025, Caribbean tourism continued to show signs of resilience and recovery with a three percent increase in international arrivals compared to 2024.

This occurred despite the deceleration of travel from the United States, its main emitting market, which posed one of the major challenges in 2025. The causes are linked to economic uncertainty and changes in consumer preferences, as travelers now seek more affordable options or alternative destinations.

The travel and tourism industry predicts that international visits will decrease by 6.3%, reaching 67.9 million visitors in 2025 compared to 72.4 million in 2024.

Despite this situation, the U.S. market remains critical for the region since it accounts for nearly half of all tourist arrivals in the Caribbean. Europe ranks second with 14% and Canada maintains a steady presence with 10%.

Seventeen Caribbean destinations reported higher arrival numbers in 2025 than the previous year. Among them stand out the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Curaçao, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, and Dominica.

However, a smaller group has yet to reach pre-pandemic figures, reflecting an uneven recovery process. Those experiencing declines include Cuba, which closed the year with 1.7 million visitors and faced significant difficulties such as increased sanctions imposed by the U.S. government, energy crises, shortages of basic products essential for tourism, outbreaks of arbovirus epidemics, and Hurricane Melissa's devastation.

Dominican Republic concluded 2025 with 11.6 million visitors arriving, including 2.8 million cruise passengers, surpassing previous year's figures and marking a new milestone for national tourism. More than 960 thousand tourists arrived via air transport during December alone.

The Dominican Civil Aviation Authority authorized 800 additional charter and regular flights due to severe impacts caused by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, Bahamas, Cuba, and Haiti.

For 2026, the region anticipates developments ranging from concepts like hotels within hotels to multi-million dollar expansions, preparing islands to welcome a new generation of travelers seeking exclusivity and personalized experiences amidst improved travel facilities and increasing air connectivity.

This wave of hotel development and new segments of travelers not only diversifies offerings but also consolidates the Caribbean as the preferred global destination for family-friendly relaxation and high-end luxury, concludes Perelló.

(Taken from Prensa Latina)