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First Quarter Stats Strong for Caribbean Visitation

April 26, 2006

First Quarter Stats Strong for Caribbean Visitation
April 26, 2006 – Despite concerns about what impact the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will have on travel to the Caribbean in the future, arrivals were up this winter, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization. During the region’s peak season, an estimated 23.6 million visitors headed to the Caribbean, an increase of 1.1 million visitors over the first quarter of 2005.

Here are some country-specific stats:

  • Following a trend that started last summer, the Bahamas is experiencing a continued upswing in its visitation and hotel occupancy numbers
  • Aruba’s existing hotel product averaged occupancies above 80 percent in the first quarter
  • Jamaica reported a record 10 percent jump in stopover arrivals from January to March
  • The Dominican Republic, the Cayman Islands, Barbados and Puerto Rico all welcomed more visitors during the first quarter this year than in 2005

Additionally, many Caribbean countries, Aruba in particular, are continuing to see new, high-end resort properties being built, and many other tourism-related projects are in the works.

 

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