Last year was a big year for Caribbean tourism. The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) reported that they experienced a historic level of growth—surpassing all the major regions in the world for the first time ever. Twenty-nine million people visited the Caribbean in 2015, with the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Jamaica receiving the highest number of visitors.

What is the reason for this increase in Caribbean travel? Besides the beautiful sunny skies and wide variety of fabulous vacation options, the combination of people having more money to play with and air capacity hitting a growth spurt has everyone packing their bags and booking their tickets to paradise.

Increased Airlift to the Caribbean

JetBlue has succeeded in making it easier than ever for people to jet down to the Caribbean. They recently added flights from the US to Curacao, Grenada, and Barbados. They plan to open up flights from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas this coming August.

Delta has also increased their air capacity to Belize, St. Croix, Antigua, and Barbuda. It certainly helps that the Caribbean nations have made extensive improvements to their airports and infrastructure to make them more attractive to airlines, allowing vacationers to travel there more efficiently. The easier is is for people to travel to a specific destination, the more likely they are to want to go.

More Money, More Travel

With the global economy on the up and up, families are able to better budget for traveling. North America was again the largest market for the Caribbean, accounting for 60% of all travelers. It is estimated that last year, a trip to one of the Caribbean islands (excluding airfare) cost an average of $950, down from $975 in 2014.

Travelers are also able to save on accommodations by booking vacation rentals or Caribbean timeshare rentals while enjoying a larger space to spread out in, better amenities, and more conveniences—full kitchens, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, washers and dryers, and private balconies, to name a few.

Traveling From All Over

Despite the political and economic difficulties South America is facing, the people still want and need a good vacation getaway. And what better escape than the Caribbean islands? The Caribbean is an incredibly popular destination for travelers from Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina. Surprisingly enough, the country has the highest growth for number of trips to the Caribbean compared to every other sector in the entire world!

The European market also saw a rise in the past year, bringing five million travelers to the Caribbean in 2015, with the United Kingdom making up a large portion of that—1.1 million to be exact.

Safety and Fun in the Sun

There is so much going on in the world right now that makes people fearful of traveling to various countries and areas of the world. With the recent terrorist attacks, travelers are seeing the Caribbean as a safer spot to bring their families. The islands are also considered a zone of tranquility, allowing vacationers to have that additional peace of mind.

It also doesn’t hurt that there are endless Caribbean resorts to choose from, many of which offer so many on-site amenities and activities, so there is very little need to leave the grounds to have a fun-filled trip.

Each island offers its own unique culture, experience, and individual activities. Love to swim and lay in the sun? Travel to Barbados for some of the best beaches in the world and all the glorious sunshine you could ever dream of. Want to get in touch with your wild side? Belize is packed with gorgeous mountains, rich jungles, and sparkling waterfalls for you to hike, explore, and enjoy. Looking kick back, relax, and enjoy a carefree escape? You’ll find friendly faces, white sandy beaches, and gorgeous sunsets on the beautiful island of Aruba.

Regardless of what kind of Caribbean vacation you are after, know that you can get there easily and affordably with the increase in Caribbean travel from around the world. Contact our independent timeshare specialists today for assistance in discovering your perfect Caribbean escape at 1-877-815-4227.