Caribbean tourism brought in $42.5 billion for the region in 2023, which is 12.5% of Caribbean GDP, and hotel occupancy told a sharper story than you might expect. While some islands like Turks and Caicos and Aruba push into the mid to high 80s, others sit closer to the mid 60s as all inclusive demand, cruise recovery, and capacity shape what travelers actually experience. We pulled the latest occupancy, room counts, visitor totals, and spending across every major destination to show where demand is strongest and where it is still rebuilding.
Key Takeaways
- Jamaica hotel occupancy averaged 75% in 2023 with 4.1 million visitors
- Dominican Republic hotel rooms totaled 120,000 in 2023 with 82% occupancy
- Bahamas had 25,000 hotel rooms in 2023, average occupancy 78%
- Tourism in the Caribbean contributed $42.5 billion to GDP in 2023, representing 12.5% of regional GDP
- The sector supported 2.6 million jobs in the Caribbean in 2023, or 11.8% of total employment
- International visitor spending reached $35.2 billion in 2023, up 15% from 2022
- US tourists accounted for 55% of all Caribbean arrivals in 2023 at 18.5 million
- Canada contributed 20% of visitors or 6.7 million to Caribbean in 2023
- UK market sent 2.8 million tourists to Caribbean in 2023, 8% growth
- Caribbean tourism projected to grow 5.2% annually to 2030, reaching 45 million arrivals
- Sustainable tourism investments hit $3.1 billion in 2023 across region
- Eco-certifications covered 25% of hotels by end-2023, up from 15% in 2022
- In 2023, the Dominican Republic recorded 10.1 million international tourist arrivals, a 9% increase from 2022
- Jamaica saw 4.1 million visitors in 2023, with 2.9 million from the US marking a 12% YoY growth
- The Bahamas welcomed 3.8 million stopover and cruise passengers combined in 2023, up 15% from pre-pandemic levels
In 2023, Caribbean tourism hit record growth, with 45% of rooms all inclusive and $42.5 billion GDP impact.
Related reading
01 · Category
Accommodation and Occupancy27 stats
01
Jamaica hotel occupancy averaged 75% in 2023 with 4.1 million visitors
02
Dominican Republic hotel rooms totaled 120,000 in 2023 with 82% occupancy
03
Bahamas had 25,000 hotel rooms in 2023, average occupancy 78%
04
Puerto Rico's 15,000 rooms saw 72% occupancy in FY2023
05
Cuba operated 80,000 hotel rooms in 2023 at 65% occupancy
06
Barbados 7,500 rooms achieved 80% occupancy in 2023 peak season
07
Antigua had 4,200 rooms with 75% annual occupancy in 2023
08
Aruba's 10,000 rooms hit 85% occupancy in 2023
09
Cayman Islands 8,000 rooms averaged 82% occupancy in 2023
10
St. Lucia 5,500 rooms saw 78% occupancy driven by all-inclusives
11
Grenada 3,000 rooms achieved 70% occupancy in 2023
12
Turks & Caicos 6,500 luxury rooms at 88% occupancy in 2023
13
Belize 4,000 rooms averaged 68% occupancy eco-lodges focus
14
Trinidad 6,000 rooms at 65% occupancy in 2023
15
St. Kitts 3,200 rooms hit 80% peak occupancy
16
Dominica 1,500 eco-rooms at 72% occupancy in 2023
17
Anguilla 1,200 luxury villas/rooms 90% occupancy high season
18
BVI 2,500 rooms averaged 75% post-hurricane recovery 2023
19
USVI 6,000 rooms 77% occupancy in 2023
20
Curaçao 4,000 rooms 82% occupancy casino resorts
21
Bonaire 1,000 dive resorts 85% occupancy
22
Sint Maarten 4,500 rooms 80% occupancy beachfronts
23
St. Vincent 2,000 rooms 70% occupancy yacht focus
24
Martinique 8,000 rooms 75% French market occupancy
25
Guadeloupe 7,500 rooms averaged 72% in 2023
26
Regional all-inclusive resorts comprised 45% of 450,000 total rooms in 2023
27
New hotel openings added 15,000 rooms across Caribbean in 2023
Interpretation
Accommodation and Occupancy Interpretation
While the Dominican Republic holds court with sheer volume and Aruba dazzles with packed efficiency, the Caribbean's tourism throne is ultimately a shared, sun-drenched seat where each island, from the all-inclusive powerhouses to the eco-lodge retreats, finds its own perfectly profitable niche.
02 · Category
Economic Contributions28 stats
01
Tourism in the Caribbean contributed $42.5 billion to GDP in 2023, representing 12.5% of regional GDP
02
The sector supported 2.6 million jobs in the Caribbean in 2023, or 11.8% of total employment
03
International visitor spending reached $35.2 billion in 2023, up 15% from 2022
04
Domestic tourism added $7.8 billion to the Caribbean economy in 2023
05
In Jamaica, tourism generated $4.5 billion in earnings in 2023, 35% of exports
06
Dominican Republic's tourism sector contributed $11.2 billion to GDP in 2023
07
Bahamas tourism accounted for 50% of GDP at $5.8 billion in 2023
08
Puerto Rico's visitor economy generated $9.1 billion in 2023, supporting 130,000 jobs
09
Cuba's tourism revenue hit $2.4 billion in 2023 from 2.4 million visitors
10
Barbados tourism contributed BBD 2.5 billion to GDP in 2023, 40% share
11
Antigua's tourism generated $1.2 billion in 2023, 60% of GDP
12
Aruba's visitor sector added $2.1 billion to economy in 2023, 65% GDP
13
Cayman Islands tourism revenue was $1.8 billion in 2023, 70% GDP reliance
14
St. Lucia tourism earnings reached $1.1 billion in 2023, 65% exports
15
Grenada's sector contributed $450 million in 2023, 25% GDP
16
Turks & Caicos tourism generated $1.4 billion in 2023, 60% GDP
17
Belize tourism added $500 million to GDP in 2023, 40% share
18
Trinidad tourism revenue was $800 million in 2023, 5% GDP
19
St. Kitts tourism contributed $400 million in 2023, 50% GDP
20
BVI tourism generated $700 million in 2023 post-recovery
21
USVI visitor spending totaled $3.5 billion in 2023
22
Curaçao tourism revenue hit $1.2 billion in 2023
23
St. Maarten tourism added $1.6 billion to economy in 2023
24
Guyana tourism revenue grew to $300 million in 2023
25
Martinique tourism spending was €800 million in 2023
26
Guadeloupe visitor economy contributed €700 million in 2023
27
Regional tourism investment reached $5.2 billion in 2023 for infrastructure
28
Tourism taxes and fees generated $2.1 billion across Caribbean in 2023
Interpretation
Economic Contributions Interpretation
While the Caribbean sun and sand are famously its greatest assets, these statistics prove they are also its most vital economic engine, propping up a stunning average of one in every ten regional jobs and transforming paradise into a paycheck for millions.
03 · Category
Source Markets24 stats
01
US tourists accounted for 55% of all Caribbean arrivals in 2023 at 18.5 million
02
Canada contributed 20% of visitors or 6.7 million to Caribbean in 2023
03
UK market sent 2.8 million tourists to Caribbean in 2023, 8% growth
04
Germany provided 1.2 million visitors in 2023, focused on DR and Cuba
05
France sent 1.5 million mainly to French Caribbean islands in 2023
06
Brazil emerged with 800,000 visitors to Caribbean in 2023, up 25%
07
Netherlands contributed 400,000 to Dutch Caribbean like Aruba in 2023
08
Italy sent 350,000 tourists, luxury segments in 2023
09
Russia recovered to 150,000 visitors post-2022 in 2023
10
Argentina provided 200,000 mainly to DR in 2023
11
Colombia grew to 500,000 regional visitors in 2023
12
Mexico sent 300,000 to eastern Caribbean in 2023
13
South Korea niche market 50,000 luxury travelers in 2023
14
India emerging with 80,000 high-end visitors in 2023
15
Australia contributed 40,000 long-haul to Caribbean 2023
16
Domestic intra-Caribbean travel hit 1.2 million trips in 2023
17
Florida as gateway sent 12 million via air to Caribbean 2023
18
New York market 4.5 million departures to Caribbean 2023
19
Toronto airport handled 2.1 million to Caribbean 2023
20
London Heathrow 900,000 to Caribbean in 2023
21
Miami international 8.2 million Caribbean passengers 2023
22
Cruise visitors from US ports totaled 15 million to Caribbean in 2023
23
85% recovery to 2019 levels in US source market by Q4 2023
24
European markets reached 92% of pre-pandemic volumes in 2023
Interpretation
Source Markets Interpretation
The Caribbean's tourism economy remains an American-led affair, with Canada as a loyal lieutenant and Europe cheerfully rejoining the parade, while a savvy collection of niche and regional visitors busily carve out their own sunny corners of the map.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sustainability and Trends20 stats
01
Caribbean tourism projected to grow 5.2% annually to 2030, reaching 45 million arrivals
02
Sustainable tourism investments hit $3.1 billion in 2023 across region
03
Eco-certifications covered 25% of hotels by end-2023, up from 15% in 2022
04
Carbon emissions from tourism down 8% via green initiatives in 2023
05
Overtourism concerns in 12 islands led to caps on cruise ships in 2023
06
Digital nomad visas issued to 50,000 remote workers in 2023
07
Adventure tourism segment grew 22% to 4 million participants in 2023
08
Wellness tourism revenue $8.5 billion in 2023, 25% growth
09
Culinary tourism events drew 2.5 million in 2023, boosting off-season
10
Yachting charters increased 18% to 150,000 bookings in 2023
11
Air connectivity improved with 1,200 weekly flights in 2023 winter
12
Post-pandemic health protocols retained by 70% destinations in 2023
13
Female-led tourism businesses rose to 35% in 2023 surveys
14
Coral reef protection projects funded $200 million in 2023
15
Plastic waste reduction 40% in resorts via bans in 2023
16
Community tourism programs engaged 500,000 locals in 2023
17
AI and VR tourism previews adopted by 40% DMOs in 2023
18
Resilience index improved to 85/100 post-hurricanes in 2023
19
Luxury segment grew 30% to $12 billion spend in 2023
20
Millennials/GenZ 45% of new visitors prioritizing sustainability 2023
Interpretation
Sustainability and Trends Interpretation
It seems the Caribbean is mastering a tricky new dance: striding forward as millions more tourists arrive, while carefully stepping lighter on its own fragile paradise.
05 · Category
Visitor Statistics30 stats
01
In 2023, the Dominican Republic recorded 10.1 million international tourist arrivals, a 9% increase from 2022
02
Jamaica saw 4.1 million visitors in 2023, with 2.9 million from the US marking a 12% YoY growth
03
The Bahamas welcomed 3.8 million stopover and cruise passengers combined in 2023, up 15% from pre-pandemic levels
04
Puerto Rico attracted 5.9 million visitors in FY2023, including 3.2 million air arrivals
05
Cuba reported 2.4 million international tourists in 2023, primarily from Canada and Europe
06
Barbados had 750,000 stay-over arrivals in 2023, a 10% rise driven by UK and US markets
07
Antigua and Barbuda received 410,000 visitors in 2023, with cruise passengers at 280,000
08
Aruba logged 1.3 million stay-over tourists in 2023, up 8% from 2022
09
Cayman Islands saw 1.9 million total visitors in 2023, including 800,000 cruise passengers
10
St. Lucia welcomed 380,000 stay-over arrivals in 2023, a 14% increase YoY
11
Grenada attracted 170,000 tourists in 2023, with 40% from the US
12
Turks and Caicos recorded 600,000 air arrivals in 2023, up 20% from 2022
13
Martinique saw 500,000 visitors in 2023, mostly from France
14
Guadeloupe hosted 450,000 tourists in 2023, with a focus on European markets
15
Haiti received 250,000 visitors in 2023 despite challenges, mainly cruise
16
Belize welcomed 550,000 tourists in 2023, 60% from US/Canada
17
Trinidad and Tobago had 420,000 arrivals in 2023, boosted by Carnival
18
St. Kitts and Nevis saw 190,000 stay-over visitors in 2023, up 18%
19
Dominica attracted 90,000 tourists in 2023, emphasizing eco-tourism
20
Anguilla recorded 120,000 visitors in 2023, luxury segment dominant
21
British Virgin Islands welcomed 450,000 total visitors in 2023
22
US Virgin Islands had 3.2 million visitors in 2023, mostly cruise
23
Curaçao saw 650,000 stay-over tourists in 2023, up 11%
24
Bonaire attracted 110,000 visitors in 2023, diving focus
25
Saba recorded 25,000 tourists in 2023, niche adventure market
26
Sint Maarten welcomed 1.5 million cruise passengers in 2023 alongside 500,000 stay-overs
27
St. Vincent and the Grenadines had 140,000 visitors in 2023, yachting key
28
Nevis saw 80,000 stay-over arrivals in 2023, luxury wellness
29
Montserrat attracted 15,000 tourists in 2023, adventure niche
30
Guyana welcomed 200,000 visitors in 2023, eco-tourism growth
Interpretation
Visitor Statistics Interpretation
The Caribbean’s 2023 tourism map shows a region in full bloom, with the Dominican Republic leading a record-breaking parade of sun-seekers, culture cravers, and cruise ship conga lines, proving that while some islands chase luxury and others adventure, they all collectively agree that the best way to recover from a pandemic is with a steady drip of sunscreen and foreign currency.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Nathan Caldwell. (2026, February 13). Tourism In The Caribbean Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/tourism-in-the-caribbean-statistics
MLA
Nathan Caldwell. "Tourism In The Caribbean Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/tourism-in-the-caribbean-statistics.
Chicago
Nathan Caldwell. 2026. "Tourism In The Caribbean Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/tourism-in-the-caribbean-statistics.
Sources & references
100 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level