The lure of pristine beaches, turquoise waters and Caribbean culture is drawing millions of vacationers and business travelers to the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), according to a recent report.
Data provided by analytics company Testing forward and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Organization shows that Arrivals to the islands have increased by a staggering 18 percent so far in 2024, positioning itself as one of the fastest growing areas.
In 2023, the USVI shared economy sector saw an impressive revenue of $343.4 million.
The average hotel occupancy rate (ADR) exceeds regional competitors by $463.23 per night, compared to $318.81 regionally. Additionally, the islands’ Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) continues to exceed regional standards.
These rather positive results are not the result of chance. Part of this is due to a careful business plan and extensive marketing efforts.
Some areas the Department of Tourism has strengthened ties with in recent years include sports, mainland US airlines and the cruise industry.
Regarding sport-the area collaborates with relevant national teams such as the New York Jets, Chicago Cubs, Klutch Sports Group and Boston Red Sox.
This strategy, combined with public events such as Carnival, has enabled an increase in arrivals of up to 21 percent compared to pre-pandemic figures.
Re connectivity, the USVI has increased seat capacity to 23% from the mainland to St. Croix and 21% to St. Thomas. It has also been working on adding more flights from Canada and Europe. Other key markets where they are looking to expand include Denmark and Italy.
The already powerful USVI cruise industry partners with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) to multiply cruise visits and offer new experiences to international customers.
The cruise sector expects an increase of 80% by 2024, with around 650,000 new passengers.
Significant investments have been made in tourism infrastructure in recent years.
In the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the government has intensified efforts to expand its offerings, including eco-friendly resorts and brand new cruise facilities.
According to the government, the booming tourism sector is fueled by the area’s natural beauty, strong investment and aggressive marketing campaigns.
The USVI is not the only Caribbean destination showing remarkable tourism growth.
Industry leaders recently revealed at the annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Jamaica that all Caribbean destinations combined hosted 33.2 million travelers in 2023, an increase of 14.3 percent compared to the previous year.
Other destinations breaking arrival and revenue records include Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Belize, the Dominican Republic and Cancun in Mexico.
