Number of Caribbean visitors rose 4.2% in 2016, says CTO

Caribbean visitor numbers totaled 29.3 million in 2016, up
4.2% over 2015, according to Hugh Riley, secretary general of the Caribbean
Tourism Organization.

Although the visitor total fell short of the 30 million
hoped for by CTO, “the 2016 numbers continued our record
of growth for the seventh straight year,” Riley said in an online
presentation from CTO’s headquarters in Barbados.

Cruise arrivals grew by 1.3% to approximately
26.3 million passengers. The U.S continued to be the primary long-stay market,
accounting for half of all arrivals. The European market showed the strongest
growth, climbing 11%.

Double-digit visitor growth from the U.S. was recorded in
Belize, Turks and Caicos, Bermuda, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Cuba, Guyana,
Grenada and Montserrat.

The improvement in arrivals to the Caribbean was not
reflected in improved hotel performance. Riley cited STR data showing the average daily rate fell to
$201.50, revenue per available room contracted by 2.6% to $134.48, and occupancy fell by 1.6 points, to 66.7%.

“This outcome reflects the rise of the sharing economy
[Airbnb and HomeAway stays] and additional hotel room stock,” Riley said.