CTO Confirms Hefty Cruise Growth in the Caribbean

Cruise traffic in the Caribbean grew 8.9 percent during the first four months of 2014 compared to the same period of 2013, according to a report on the arrival of cruise passengers to the region released by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).

According to the report (which does not include data from Guadeloupe and St. Maarten, two major cruise destinations), Cozumel recorded the highest annual increase in traffic as it reached 1.4 million passengers (compared to 1.2 million in January-April 2013).

Meanwhile, Martinique boasted the highlighted percentage growth, with a staggering 70 percent, jumping from 60,000 passengers last year to 102,000 this year.

In its annual State of the Industry Annual Report for 2014-2015, Cruise Industry News recently reported that the Caribbean-Bahamas region continues to dominate the cruise industry worldwide in 2014 as it has increased from 40.7 to 42.2 percent its global market share over the past five years.

Behind the Mediterranean, the Caribbean-Bahamas region comes next with 17.7 percent; Asia-Pacific (9.1 percent); Northern and Western Europe (9 percent); Alaska (4.2 percent); West Coast and the Mexican Riviera (3.5 percent); South America (2.6 percent) and Australia (2.3 percent).