NEW YORK, Jun 05 2015, CNS – The Caribbean recorded a six percent increase in tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year, chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Richard Sealy has said.
Sealy, who is also the Barbados Minister of Tourism, told a news conference here that the Caribbean had “bolted out of the gates” in 2015 as the region recorded its 17th straight quarter of growth with nearly eight million visitors coming to the region during the first four months of the year.
Sealy, who is attending the CTO sponsored Caribbean Week that ends here Friday, said that the Caribbean continues its rapid growth rate from 2014 when arrivals grew by 5.3 percent to 26.3 million visitors
“We’ve bolted out of the gates with a six percent rise in arrivals over the first quarter of 2014. Arrivals to the Caribbean are estimated to be 7.9 million in the first three months. This is the fifth consecutive year in which arrivals grew during the first quarter and the 17th quarter of continuous growth,” he said.
Sealy said that the United States market “continues to be our most productive,” with arrivals from that market showing an increase of 5.6 percent.
The Canadian market grew an equally impressive 5.4 percent with Cuba and Dominican Republic among the destinations recording higher levels of arrivals
In the accommodation sector, all leading hotel performance indicators were positive.
There was a modest increase of 1.3 percent in the number of rooms available in the first quarter, the largest increase for this quarter in the last seven years.
Historical first quarters highs were also recorded for Room Occupancy (77.8 percent), Average Daily Rate (US$239.84) and Revenue per Available Room (US188.25)
In cruise, passenger arrivals slowed in the first quarter with the Caribbean registering a 3.4 percent rise, compared to a 4.3 percent growth in 2014 over 2013.
An estimated 8.6 million cruise passengers visited the region in the first quarter with the best performing destinations being the French island of Martinique (34.2 percent), Puerto Rico (26.2 percent), Antigua & Barbuda (18.6 percent) and Jamaica (15.9 percent).
Sealy said that the outlook for the remainder of the year is positive with growth expected to be moderate and uneven among member countries.
“However, overall tourist arrivals are now anticipated to rise at least six percent over 2014. In the cruise sector, the momentum gained in the first quarter could be reduced as cruise ships are repositioned away from the region,” he said.
