Caribbean saw strong holiday season

The Caribbean remains a top tourist destination.

Last month, the Caribbean saw a strong holiday season despite some countries in the region being battered with hurricanes last year. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association reports that many hotels reported 90 percent occupancies in December. Despite many countries still recovering from damage left by Hurricane Irma and Maria, it was only a best under.

“Now is a perfect time to visit and support the Caribbean and to see for yourselves how the resilience of our people offers travelers from around the world an exceptional experience, especially during this winter season and beyond,” said Frank Comito.

The countries that saw the most travelers were Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Cancun, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and The Bahamas.

“More than 70 percent of the Caribbean was not impacted by hurricanes Irma and Maria and travelers are discovering the incredible diversity of destinations and offerings throughout the region, as they explore its many vacation options,” stated Frank Comito, CEO and director general of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA).

This is a good sign for the islands because the organization will be hosting its annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace seminar in Puerto Rico from Jan. 31 – Feb. 2.

Reach reporter Alexandra Simon at (718) 260–8310 or e-mail her at asimon@cnglocal.com.