Now that the effects of Covid are definitively behind us, at least as regards its consequences on the tourism sector where everything seems to have returned more or less to normal, isn’t it time to see where the main destinations stand? occupy our holidays?
Balance sheet, prospects and future trends, strengths or vice versa concerns, a brief overview region by region. With to start a trip to the Caribbean.
What does tourism traditionally represent for the Caribbean area?
Known above all for its beaches, the Caribbean has long been an important tourist and cruise area which, after initially attracting a North American clientele representing even more than one visitor in two, now also welcomes a flood of Europeans thanks to the democratization of tourism . some time ago.
Before Covid, the Caribbean welcomed 25 to 30 million visitors and raked in more than $30 billion in revenue each year. In short, there are so many people and potential in the “relaxation holiday” sector that several islands (Cuba, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, etc.) have long been betting everything or almost everything on this activity and its profits.
Once the pandemic is over, what now?
A sector still in progress
According to data for 2023 and trends for 2024, tourist arrivals in the region are clearly increasing, even exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 0.8%. With, as expected, a market supported by the American presence, which remains the main contingent of visitors to the islands and which has regained the volumes of the past. This is still not entirely true for Canadians and Europeans (about 5 million a year) whose arrivals represent only 90% of what they were; it’s just a matter of time, perhaps.
Also note that nearly 4% of Caribbean visitors come from this same region; a proportion almost similar to that of tourists resident in South America.
Good numbers therefore overall which also benefit from a still good air service to the area from North America (a little less true for Europe and also from the intra-Caribbean network which could be improved) and from new hotel investments which offer more possibilities for potential holidaymakers.
To which we must obviously add all these profits deriving from cruises to many ports and islands. Even though stopovers are often only ephemeral and do not necessarily count in the statistics, this market is doing very well to the point of breaking records again in 2023 and exceeding 2019 figures by almost 3%. What should continue at the same level pace for the years to come, to the point that the number of cruise passengers could soon exceed that of tourists staying, expected to be between 35 and 40 million.
However, when we know that what everyone spends there or that many small islands in the Caribbean are among the world’s destinations the most expensive to travel We understand that some are very optimistic. As representatives of the Caribbean Tourism Organization recently stated: “Caribbean destinations remain adaptable and responsive. The region is still highly sought after by travelers for its safety and the diversity of its tourism products. The outlook for the Caribbean therefore looks very promising, with even more regional destinations poised to match or significantly exceed the arrival figures recorded in 2019.”
So what more could you ask for…?
6 key destinations
Cuba
Or the exception that proves the rule. While the number of tourists increases almost everywhere in the Antilles, the opposite is happening in Cuba. But it is true that the island, despite having long been a spearhead of the region in terms of tourism, still accumulates handicaps, not necessarily helped even by international news which does not always work in its favor.
Yes, the adventurous, if not sometimes a little annoying, side of an individual journey Cuba is no longer profitable. The tourist of this first quarter of the 21st centuryAnd century obviously expects something else for his holidays and the persistent economic crisis on the island, the US embargo and the still visible damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017 don’t help either. And then there is also the neighboring Dominican Republic with its attractive hotel complexes which in recent years has largely supplanted Cuba, attracting more and more people to an identical niche with a better quality-price ratio.
And finally, what could appear as the final blow for Cuban tourism and of which the island also appears as a “victim”: this (regrettable) American decision towards those who wish to visit Cuba and who now have to request a American visa – also for the French and other Europeans – to then hope to enter the United States. Enough to discourage more than one, especially when we know the necessary time to obtain a US visa. Therefore, we can say “Why go to Cuba and complicate your life? ».
Dominican Republic
If there is one country that depends on tourism in the region, it is the Dominican Republic. 12% of its GDP and thousands of jobs depend on this sector, which is one of the most inclusive sectors with its countless seaside resorts and hotel complexes. It is therefore normal that the authorities are constantly vigilant towards this activity, constantly encouraging and developing it, also as we saw during the Covid period where the “machine” was still in operation.
And the machine still works very well, with records for 2023 (10 million tourists) and equally good prospects for this year and the next for an audience that comes from the four corners of the world in search of sun, beaches and exoticism for generally what that we do best in terms of reporting in this field. So, if there is one destination where there is no reason to worry, it is definitely the “DR”!
Martinique and Guadeloupe
With an influx of around one million visitors per year, Martinique and Guadeloupe could be considered quite popular destinations. Except that if we compare them with other nearby islands, the results are far from the best they could be.
In terms of attendance alone, the two are surpassed by the vast majority of their neighbors. Not to mention the “big names in the region” (Rep. Dom & co), small islands such as Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Aruba, Curaçao, etc., fare better. Especially since tourism in the French Antilles remains above all affinity tourism, with the arrival of people who have ties to one or the other of the two islands. Because outside of this framework, it must be said that the “real tourists from outside” are not legion. But this is nothing new.
This is nothing new because tourism, despite the natural and cultural richness of these two Doms, has never been a priority as in other islands, and the infrastructures, in particular hotels, are not adequate nor do they seem to meet the expectations of foreign visitors for a other quality-price ratio not always attractive. Furthermore – it must be said – an overall image that is not necessarily the most positive and a (perceived?) welcome for visitors that is not always the best.
And, a priori, there is little chance that any of this will change in the years to come, making Martinique and Guadeloupe still second-rate tourist destinations that exist largely only thanks to metropolises and a Franco-French public that comes and come back for the above questions. all affinity.
Bahamas
The advantage of the Bahamas, located right next to Florida, is that they are a bit like the “American’s backyard” with everything needed to satisfy this audience. As a result, the destination has always been a success and should continue to be thanks to the many cruise lines and US tourists who flock there. After all, it is not for nothing that the archipelago beat its historical record in 2023 with 9.6 million visitors.
Jamaica
Even though the French public is very limited, Jamaica remains a land of tourism. Or rather, we should say that it is precisely the famous seaside resort of Montego Bay and its surroundings, on the north coast, that monopolize the vast majority of visitors who come to enjoy, even during cruises, the splendid beaches, tax-free shopping or the many specialized all-inclusive hotel complexes.
Traditionally a sure financial windfall for the Jamaican authorities who have understood this well and continue to promote tourism and encourage the creation of new hotels resulting in 8,000 additional beds for years to come. Enough to satisfy the American, Canadian and English clientele who make up the vast majority of visitors.
And it obviously works, and quite well too, as the island has set records for tourist visits (and revenue) since the end of the pandemic. Something that is unlikely to change, indeed, for the future.
Puerto Rico
We don’t necessarily know, but Puerto Rico is the third largest destination in the entire Caribbean, behind the Dominican Republic.
With several million visitors every year it has its own audience, more than 90% coming from the United States. Logical since the island is actually a territory associated with the United States and many Puerto Ricans living in the United States regularly come to visit their families. Consequently, the island, even if it also benefits from the clientele of the numerous liners that call there, has a permanent base of visitors that it does not lack and which guarantees its level of attractiveness and its attendance.and a few others
For the rest, seven small islands are already showing better results than before Covid. Namely Anguilla, Aruba, Curacao, Grenada, St. Maarten, Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as the US Virgin Islands; some even broke the attendance record in 2023.
In short
Obviously the Caribbean area is a region in which tourism is doing well (which in itself is nothing new) and which should continue like this in the future for all the destinations that have chosen to enhance their tourist resources, be they be they seaside, cultural or natural. . And aside from Cuba, whose fall could continue, the other islands have reason to be optimistic.
But it is true that with this image of an “exotic sea”, the proximity of the North American market and the countless cruise ships that pass through the region, this part of the world still remains privileged compared to others in terms of attracting visitors…