The Cayman Islands continued its record-breaking tourism performance in April 2026, welcoming 47,884 stayover visitors — the highest number ever recorded for the month of April.
According to tourism officials, stayover arrivals were 3.9 percent higher than the previous April record set in 2019 and represented a 12 percent increase compared to April 2025.
Total visitation for the month, including both stayover guests and cruise passengers, reached 173,596 visitors, reflecting a 37 percent year-over-year increase.
The strong April results follow what officials described as a record-setting first quarter for the destination, including the highest monthly arrivals ever recorded in March 2026.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Trade Development, Hon. Gary Rutty, said the sector’s continued growth is strengthening the local economy and supporting Caymanian businesses.
“Tourism continues to play a vital role in Cayman’s economy, supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and providing opportunities for Caymanians,” Rutty said.
“After a bumper winter season and now the strongest April on record, we are entering the summer from a position of strength. Increased airlift, growing interest from new markets, and the continued quality of our tourism product give us confidence that this positive momentum can continue throughout 2026,” he added.
Rutty also noted that stronger visitor arrivals are generating broader economic benefits across the tourism sector through increased spending and business activity.
The United States remained the Cayman Islands’ largest source market, delivering its best April on record with 38,968 stayover visitors. This represented a 9.8 percent increase over April 2025 and a 5 percent increase over the previous April record set in 2019.
Tourism officials said growth from the U.S. market was led by strong performances from the Western and Midwest regions, with notable gains from Denver and Chicago.
Canada also continued to emerge as one of the destination’s fastest-growing source markets. The Cayman Islands recorded 4,277 Canadian stayover visitors in April, representing a 69 percent increase year over year and marking six consecutive months of double-digit growth from the market.
Tourism officials attributed part of the growth to expanded nonstop air service between Canada and the Cayman Islands. The destination is expected to maintain five weekly summer flights from Toronto before expanding to as many as nine weekly flights in the fall.
Further expansion is anticipated in December with the return of Porter Airlines, increasing service from Toronto and Ottawa to as many as 15 weekly flights — the highest level of connectivity ever recorded between Canada and the Cayman Islands.
Director of Tourism Rosa Harris credited the results to collaboration between tourism stakeholders, airlines and international partners.
“The success achieved in 2026 has been made possible through partnership,” Harris said. “We rely on strong industry ties with tourism partners such as on-island operators, global agencies, airlines and the travel trade.”
She added that expanded airline partnerships and market diversification efforts are helping to drive sustained growth, particularly from Canada.
Secondary markets also posted gains in April, with visitation from Continental Europe rising 23.3 percent, led by growth from Germany, France and the Netherlands. Arrivals from Latin America increased 4.3 percent.
Tourism officials said total inbound airlift capacity from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom increased 15.1 percent compared to April 2025, supported by additional service from Chicago, Toronto and Ottawa.
The accommodations sector also benefited from the increase in visitation.
According to hotel data from STR, Inc., hotel occupancy in the Cayman Islands reached 77.8 percent in April 2026, an increase of 9.4 percentage points over the same month last year.
Average daily room rates rose 6.1 percent, while revenue per available room increased 20.8 percent year over year.
Through the first four months of 2026, occupancy was up 6.7 percent compared to the same period in 2025, while revenue per available room climbed 16.6 percent, reflecting continued demand across the tourism sector.
