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Caribbean tourism outperforms rest of the world
Preliminary data from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) show that the region outperformed the rest of the world in the first half of 2021.
During this period, international tourist arrivals to the Caribbean reached 6.6 million, representing a 12% decline when compared to the same period last year.
By the end of May arrivals were at 5.2 million, down 30.8% for the corresponding period in 2020, considerably better than the global average of a 65.1% decline.
Of the main regions analysed, the Americas, including the Caribbean, registered a 46.9% drop, otherwise, no other region performed better than a 63% fall in arrivals.
While the tourist arrivals continued to lag pre-pandemic numbers, the first half year performance was boosted by a second quarter spurt when overnight tourist visits to the Caribbean jumped between ten and 37 times greater than those in the corresponding months in 2020.
In absolute terms, there was a steady improvement, as arrival numbers increased from one million in April to 1.2 million in May to 1.5 million in June, according to CRO data.
Among the reasons for the strong second quarter was a rise in outbound travel from the region’s primary market, the US, from which tourist visits reached 4.3 million in the first half of the year, a 21.7% increase.
Other contributing factors included the easing of some travel restrictions and an increase in airlift.
“These are encouraging signs that the hard work our member countries have put into adapting to the changing environment of the pandemic is beginning to pay dividends,” said Neil Walters, the CTO’s acting Secretary General.
“Even as we embrace a recovery mindset, we must continue to be mindful of the challenges we currently face and the potential challenges a dynamic situation like the pandemic can present. The Caribbean tourism sector is known to be one of the most resilient in the world.”
Learn more about : Caribbean Tourism Organization ( N. America )
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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