Caribbean tourism hit $45.7 billion in GDP impact in 2023, and cruise volumes climbed to 29.5 million passengers, up 7% from 2022. Yet the region’s performance is far from uniform, with hotel occupancy ranging from 65% in Belize to 82% in Aruba and even higher demand concentrated around flagship ports and resorts. This post pulls together the full set of hotel, cruise, and visitor spending figures to show where the momentum is strongest and where capacity is still catching up.
Key Takeaways
- Caribbean had 1.2 million hotel rooms in 2023, with 65% occupancy average
- Dominican Republic boasts 120,000 hotel rooms, 75% occupancy in 2023
- Jamaica has 35,000 hotel rooms, achieving 72% occupancy in 2023
- Caribbean welcomed 29.5 million cruise passengers in 2023, up 7% from 2022
- Nassau, Bahamas, hosted 5.5 million cruise passengers in 2023
- Cozumel, Mexico (Caribbean port), saw 4.2 million cruise visitors 2023
- Tourism contributed $45.7 billion to Caribbean GDP in 2023, representing 13% of total GDP
- Direct tourism employment in Caribbean reached 2.5 million jobs in 2023, 11% of total employment
- Dominican Republic tourism generated $9.75 billion in revenue in 2023
- Post-pandemic, 68% of millennials plan Caribbean cruises in next 5 years per 2023 survey
- Sustainable tourism certifications in Caribbean hotels rose 25% to 1,200 properties in 2023
- Overtourism concerns led to 40% of islands implementing visitor caps in 2023
- In 2023, the Dominican Republic welcomed 10.1 million international tourists, a 10% increase from 2022
- Jamaica recorded 4.28 million visitor arrivals in 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 5%
- Puerto Rico saw 5.9 million visitors in 2023, including 2.1 million cruise passengers, up 8% YoY
Caribbean tourism surged in 2023 with record cruise growth, rising occupancy, and tourism worth $45.7 billion.
Related reading
01 · Category
Accommodation and Hotels25 stats
01
Caribbean had 1.2 million hotel rooms in 2023, with 65% occupancy average
02
Dominican Republic boasts 120,000 hotel rooms, 75% occupancy in 2023
03
Jamaica has 35,000 hotel rooms, achieving 72% occupancy in 2023
04
Puerto Rico hotel inventory 25,000 rooms, 70% occupied in 2023
05
Bahamas offers 20,000 rooms, 68% occupancy rate 2023
06
Antigua has 8,000 hotel rooms, 74% occupancy in peak 2023
07
Barbados 12,000 rooms, average 70% occupancy 2023
08
Aruba 10,500 hotel rooms, 82% occupancy record in 2023
09
Cayman Islands 9,000 rooms, 75% occupied in 2023
10
St. Lucia 6,500 rooms, 71% occupancy 2023
11
Grenada 4,000 hotel rooms, 68% rate in 2023
12
Turks & Caicos 7,500 rooms, 80% occupancy 2023
13
USVI 8,200 rooms, 72% occupied 2023
14
Curaçao 5,000 rooms, 69% occupancy 2023
15
Belize 4,500 hotel rooms, 65% average 2023
16
Punta Cana mega-resorts total 50,000 rooms, 78% occupancy 2023
17
Nassau Atlantis resort had 3,800 rooms at 85% occupancy 2023
18
Montego Bay Hilton Rose Hall 500 rooms, 80% occupied 2023
19
San Juan Condado hotels 5,000 rooms, 73% rate 2023
20
Bridgetown Hilton 250 rooms, 75% occupancy 2023
21
Eagle Beach Aruba resorts 4,000 rooms, 84% 2023
22
Seven Mile Beach Cayman 5,500 rooms, 78% occupancy
23
Rodney Bay St. Lucia 3,000 rooms, 72% 2023
24
Grand Anse Grenada 2,500 rooms, 70% occupancy 2023
25
Grace Bay TCI luxury resorts 4,000 rooms, 82% 2023
Interpretation
Accommodation and Hotels Interpretation
While the Caribbean collectively plays a gracious, moderately busy host, it's clear the guests have discerning favorites, with Aruba's Eagle Beach resorts and Punta Cana's mega-hotel sprawl running a particularly tight and enviable ship.
02 · Category
Cruise Tourism28 stats
01
Caribbean welcomed 29.5 million cruise passengers in 2023, up 7% from 2022
02
Nassau, Bahamas, hosted 5.5 million cruise passengers in 2023
03
Cozumel, Mexico (Caribbean port), saw 4.2 million cruise visitors 2023
04
Grand Cayman tender port handled 1.8 million passengers in 2023
05
St. Thomas, USVI, welcomed 2.1 million cruise ship visitors 2023
06
San Juan, Puerto Rico, cruise port received 1.5 million passengers 2023
07
Bridgetown, Barbados, hosted 400,000 cruise arrivals in 2023
08
Oranjestad, Aruba, saw 1.3 million cruise passengers 2023
09
Castries, St. Lucia, recorded 750,000 cruise visitors 2023
10
St. John's, Antigua, welcomed 650,000 cruise passengers 2023
11
Willemstad, Curaçao, handled 800,000 cruise visitors 2023
12
Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, saw 1.7 million cruise arrivals 2023
13
Ocho Rios, Jamaica, hosted 1.4 million cruise passengers 2023
14
Labadee, Haiti (private port), 900,000 Royal Caribbean passengers 2023
15
Roseau, Dominica, welcomed 250,000 cruise visitors 2023
16
Basseterre, St. Kitts, 500,000 cruise passengers 2023
17
Kingstown, St. Vincent, hosted 200,000 cruise arrivals 2023
18
Road Town, BVI, saw 300,000 cruise visitors despite recovery
19
Charlotte Amalie cruise terminal 1.2 million passengers 2023
20
Falmouth, Jamaica, 1.1 million cruise visitors 2023
21
Georgetown, Grand Cayman, 1.9 million total cruise calls 2023
22
Belize City cruise port 800,000 passengers 2023
23
Roatan, Honduras (Caribbean), 1.2 million cruise visitors 2023
24
Montego Bay cruise pier 600,000 arrivals 2023
25
Punta Cana new cruise terminal 500,000 passengers first year 2023
26
85% of Caribbean cruise itineraries include at least one private destination in 2023
27
Average cruise passenger spend in Caribbean ports $120per person in 2023
28
Caribbean luxury cruise segment grew 15% in 2023 to 2 million passengers
Interpretation
Cruise Tourism Interpretation
The Caribbean isn't just a bucket-list destination; it's a well-oiled floating-cities economy, generating billions from sun-seekers who, let's be honest, are just looking for a decent wifi signal and a strong drink between their buffet meals.
03 · Category
Economic Impact28 stats
01
Tourism contributed $45.7 billion to Caribbean GDP in 2023, representing 13% of total GDP
02
Direct tourism employment in Caribbean reached 2.5 million jobs in 2023, 11% of total employment
03
Dominican Republic tourism generated $9.75 billion in revenue in 2023
04
Jamaica's tourism sector earned $4.2 billion USD in 2023, up 12% YoY
05
Puerto Rico tourism expenditure by visitors totaled $5.1 billion in 2023
06
Bahamas tourism contributed $4.5 billion to economy in 2023, 35% of GDP
07
Antigua tourism revenue hit $1.2 billion in 2023, supporting 40% of jobs
08
Barbados visitor spending reached $1.1 billion in 2023
09
Aruba's tourism GDP contribution was 65% or $2.8 billion in 2023
10
Cayman Islands tourism generated $1.8 billion in 2023, 70% of GDP
11
St. Lucia tourism earnings were $1.05 billion in 2023, up 25%
12
Grenada tourism contributed $450 million to GDP in 2023, 25% share
13
Turks & Caicos tourism revenue $2.1 billion in 2023, 60% GDP
14
USVI visitor spending $2.3 billion in 2023
15
Curaçao tourism generated $1.2 billion in 2023, 40% GDP
16
Belize tourism earnings $500 million in 2023, 12% GDP
17
Guyana tourism revenue $200 million in 2023, growing 40%
18
Caribbean cruise tourism generated $5.5 billion in direct spending in 2023
19
Punta Cana resorts earned $6 billion from tourists in 2023
20
Nassau tourism spending by visitors $3.2 billion in 2023
21
Montego Bay, Jamaica, generated $1.8 billion in tourism revenue 2023
22
San Juan hotels and attractions earned $3 billion in 2023
23
Bridgetown visitor expenditure $800 million in 2023
24
Palm Beach, Aruba, contributed $1.5 billion to economy in 2023
25
Seven Mile Beach, Cayman, generated $1.2 billion tourism spend 2023
26
Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, tourism revenue $700 million in 2023
27
Grand Anse Beach, Grenada, $300 million impact in 2023
28
Grace Bay, TCI, $1.5 billion visitor spend 2023
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
While Caribbean sunbathers blissfully sip their cocktails, the billions they spend are quite literally keeping the regional economy afloat, funding nearly one in ten jobs and forming the staggering, sun-bleached backbone of entire nations.
More related reading
04 · Category
Trends and Sustainability20 stats
01
Post-pandemic, 68% of millennials plan Caribbean cruises in next 5 years per 2023 survey
02
Sustainable tourism certifications in Caribbean hotels rose 25% to 1,200 properties in 2023
03
Overtourism concerns led to 40% of islands implementing visitor caps in 2023
04
Eco-tourism bookings in Caribbean increased 35% YoY to 5 million in 2023
05
Digital nomad visas issued in Caribbean countries totaled 50,000 in 2023, boosting long-stay tourism
06
Wellness tourism market in Caribbean valued at $3.2 billion in 2023, up 20%
07
Airlift to Caribbean grew 18% in 2023 with 1,200 weekly flights from US
08
Coral reef protection projects funded $150 million by tourism levies in 2023
09
Female-led tourism businesses in Caribbean reached 45% in 2023
10
Adventure tourism (hiking, diving) accounted for 22% of visits in 2023, up from 15%
11
Carbon-neutral resorts in Caribbean numbered 150 in 2023, doubling since 2020
12
Social media influence drove 60% of bookings for Caribbean in 2023 Gen Z survey
13
Sea turtle nesting tourism generated $50 million sustainably in 2023
14
75% of Caribbean tourists seek authentic cultural experiences in 2023 polls
15
Renewable energy in resorts covered 30% of power needs in 2023, up 10%
16
Medical tourism in Caribbean grew to 200,000 patients in 2023, $1 billion market
17
Yachting charters increased 12% to 15,000 vessels in 2023 season
18
Community-based tourism initiatives supported 10,000 jobs in 2023
19
Plastic waste reduction in hotels achieved 50% less single-use by 2023
20
Birdwatching tourism attracted 1 million visitors, $300 million revenue 2023
Interpretation
Trends and Sustainability Interpretation
The Caribbean is expertly navigating a post-pandemic wave of selfie-snapping millennials, digital nomads, and wellness seekers by channeling their enthusiasm into a new, more sustainable model where visitor caps protect paradise, tourism levies fund coral reefs, and authentic experiences now mean spotting a sea turtle instead of just spotting a cruise ship buffet.
05 · Category
Visitor Arrivals30 stats
01
In 2023, the Dominican Republic welcomed 10.1 million international tourists, a 10% increase from 2022
02
Jamaica recorded 4.28 million visitor arrivals in 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 5%
03
Puerto Rico saw 5.9 million visitors in 2023, including 2.1 million cruise passengers, up 8% YoY
04
The Bahamas attracted 4.8 million tourists in 2023, with 90% from the US market
05
Antigua and Barbuda reported 1.1 million stay-over arrivals in 2023, a 12% growth
06
Barbados welcomed 750,000 visitors in 2023, recovering 95% of 2019 figures
07
Aruba saw 1.28 million visitors in 2023, with a 15% increase in European tourists
08
Cayman Islands recorded 400,000 stay-over visitors in 2023, up 20% from 2022
09
St. Lucia attracted 380,000 tourists in 2023, a 28% rise YoY
10
Grenada welcomed 170,000 visitors in 2023, exceeding 2019 by 8%
11
Turks and Caicos Islands saw 550,000 visitors in 2023, with 70% from USA
12
US Virgin Islands reported 1.2 million visitors in 2023, up 15%
13
Curaçao attracted 650,000 tourists in 2023, a 14% increase
14
Martinique recorded 500,000 visitors in 2023 from France and North America
15
Sint Maarten welcomed 500,000 cruise and stay-over visitors in 2023
16
Belize saw 550,000 tourists in 2023, focused on eco-tourism, up 22%
17
Guyana recorded 250,000 visitors in 2023, a 50% surge due to oil boom
18
Haiti had 250,000 tourists in 2023 despite challenges
19
Dominican Republic's Punta Cana alone had 6.5 million visitors in 2023
20
Nassau, Bahamas, welcomed 3.2 million cruise and air visitors in 2023
21
Ocho Rios, Jamaica, saw 1.5 million tourists in 2023
22
San Juan, Puerto Rico, recorded 2.8 million arrivals in 2023
23
Bridgetown, Barbados, attracted 450,000 visitors in 2023
24
Oranjestad, Aruba, had 1.1 million visitors in 2023
25
George Town, Cayman Islands, saw 2.5 million cruise passengers in 2023
26
Castries, St. Lucia, welcomed 250,000 tourists in 2023
27
St. George's, Grenada, recorded 120,000 arrivals in 2023
28
Providenciales, Turks & Caicos, had 450,000 visitors in 2023
29
Charlotte Amalie, USVI, saw 800,000 visitors in 2023
30
Willemstad, Curaçao, attracted 550,000 tourists in 2023
Interpretation
Visitor Arrivals Interpretation
The Caribbean’s collective tourism comeback is not just a gentle tide but a full-blown tsunami of sunseekers, proving that even after a global pause, the only thing more relentless than the ocean is the human desire for a decent beach.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Caribbean Tourism Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/caribbean-tourism-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "Caribbean Tourism Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/caribbean-tourism-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Caribbean Tourism Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/caribbean-tourism-statistics.
Sources & references
68 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level