—
ROAD TO RECOVERY —
Despite devastating hurricanes and detrimental
exchange rates, tourism in the Caribbean remains strong. Gary Noakes investigates the performance of the region’s top source markets
T
his year was the one when the Caribbean bounced back after it was rocked by two Category 5 hurricanes – Irma and
Maria – in 2017, only for the Bahamas (CA150) to be devastated again in September. Hurricane Dorian means the Bahamas will
have to rebuild once more, just as other islands are completing their recovery from 2017. Many of them used this disaster to relaunch and refurbish properties, bringing a new offering to repeat and first-time visitors. This investment has started to show in terms of visitor numbers from key markets this year. The early signs were good; the region saw a 12% increase in arrivals in January, February and March, with 9.1 million international visitors, up 970,000. Cruise visits reached 10.7 million, an increase of 900,000 year-on-year. Moreover, more than 70% of the region was unaffected by the 2017 storms and WTTC research found even hurricane- affected destinations anticipate annual tourism spending growth of 8.7% from 2019 until 2021. Pre-Dorian, the Caribbean Tourism Organization
(CA260) predicted an increase in total arrivals of 8-9% in 2019, aided by a 1.4% rise in available airline seats to 12.4 million in the first quarter. Further proof of the uptick came with CTO figures published in August, which showed that of 25 destinations reporting 2019 arrivals data, only two (Bermuda and Haiti) had seen numbers decline. Some destinations are reliant on a handful of
ABOVE RIGHT: The Dominican Republic was the most popular spot for US arrivals in the first half of 2019
ABOVE: Cuba saw UK visitors drop 22%, but it was the favourite for Canadian holidaymakers
key markets for the bulk of their visitors. Grenada (CA270), for example, derives 45% of its tourists from the US, 17% from the UK and 12% from Canada. Arrivals data from markets like these to destinations throughout the region are a key barometer of the Caribbean’s tourism health.
THE US US visitors spurred the Caribbean’s recovery this year with a 24% leap in numbers in the first quarter of 2019. The strength of the dollar
72 WTM OFFICIAL EVENT DAILY 04.11.2019
meant the US was the strongest performer, with 4.5 million visits in the first quarter of 2019. For the January-June period, arrivals from
the US grew in 19 of the CTO’s 21 reporting destinations and contracted slightly in only one – Bermuda. The biggest percentage increases – in excess of 200% – were in Dutch Sint Maarten and Anguilla. The most visited destination in the first half of 2019 was the Dominican Republic (CA300), with 1.32 million tourists, followed by Jamaica (CA120) at 946,000 and the Bahamas (702,000 in January-May). Expansion of airlift from the US continues. American Airlines will operate a second weekly flight from JFK to St Vincent and the Grenadines’ (CA275) Argyle airport from 15 December. The carrier will also launch a weekly year-round Charlotte-Grenada service in the same month.
CANADA Arrivals from Canada grew 4% in the first quarter to 1.5 million. The Caribbean is a favourite winter bolthole for Canadians, and Cuba (CA140) is by far Canada’s most popular destination, with 726,000 visitors in the January-June period. Cuba was substantially ahead of its nearest rival, the Dominican Republic, with 561,000 visitors and third-place Jamaica, with 224,000. Notable spikes in arrivals were seen in Sint
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