The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has reported a downturn in visitor arrivals from Canada and Europe in the first half of 2025, even as other markets showed growth.
According to CTO database administrator Paul Garnes, Canadian arrivals fell by just over nine per cent to 1.67 million, while European arrivals dropped by an estimated five per cent to 2.53 million compared to the same period in 2024.
Speaking at the State of the Tourism Industry Conference in Barbados, Garnes attributed the Canadian decline to weaker consumer confidence, higher travel costs, and “currency events,” with U.S. tariffs, trade tensions, and economic uncertainty also pushing many Canadians toward domestic trips and alternative destinations.
He explained that Canadian arrivals fell sharply in the early months of 2025, with January down 12 per cent, February 15 per cent, and March 10 per cent. Though April and May continued the downward trend, June brought a rebound of nearly seven per cent year-on-year, though still 11 per cent below 2019 levels. Only eight of the 19 reporting destinations saw growth from Canada, led by Bermuda, Curaçao, and Aruba.
Garnes said the European market also struggled, with overall arrivals down five per cent from last year and 17 per cent below pre-pandemic levels. “Month by month, arrivals were weak,” he noted, pointing out that April saw only a slight uptick while May and June slipped again. Just seven destinations reported growth, led by Guyana, Anguilla, and Antigua and Barbuda.
Despite these declines, Garnes highlighted positive signs in other markets. Intra-Caribbean travel rose by 1.2 per cent to 560,000 arrivals, while South America recorded a 25 per cent increase, moving from 790,000 to nearly one million. Other markets—including Asia and Africa—saw 12 per cent growth, totaling nearly 3.8 million arrivals.
“This continues to support regional resilience,” Garnes said, noting that diversification beyond traditional markets has helped offset softer demand from North America and Europe.
Overall, tourist arrivals to the Caribbean grew by 1.9 per cent in the first half of 2025, standing 6.1 per cent above 2019 levels.
“Considering tourist arrivals then, in the first half of the year 2025, the Caribbean tourism industry showed strong resilience, continuing to grow despite external challenges,” Garnes said.
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