The Caribbean saw visitor numbers increase in 2016 for the seventh consecutive year, but it failed to reach its target of 30 million arrivals.
It saw an estimated 4.2% increase in trips, which was higher than the global growth rate for the third consecutive year.
Altogether, it received over 29 million visitors for the first time.
"The performance in 2016 was primarily supported by sustained economic growth in the US, our main source market, and relatively low oil prices," said the Caribbean Tourism Organisation.
The Caribbean accounted for 2.4% of all global visits last year.
It said negative events such as a weak Canadian dollar and the most active hurricane season since 2012 combined to prevent the region from reaching its 30 million target.
