🌴 Cayman Islands sees surge in stay-over visitors in Q1 2024
Yet, numbers still fall short of 2019's record-breaking figures
The Cayman Islands welcomed over 137,000 stay-over visitors in the first quarter of 2024, marking a 13.4% increase from the same period in 2023. This figure is the second-highest for a Q1 on record, with March seeing a significant boost due to Easter. Despite this increase, the total arrival count for Q1 2024 still only reached 94% of the record-breaking numbers seen in 2019. 📈
During this period, there were 243 more flights into the Cayman Islands compared to the same timeframe in 2023. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Q1 2024 saw 226,270 airline seats on routes into Cayman from the USA, Canada, the UK and Ireland, a 21% increase from the previous year. The US remained the primary source market for visitors, accounting for 83% of arrivals. 🛫
Despite being 6% down from the 2019 figures, the Cayman Islands' Department of Tourism remains optimistic about reaching and exceeding those numbers this year. The department plans to increase the islands' presence through exhibitions and promotional events, and engage with local partners to ensure their attendance at critical travel conferences and trade shows throughout 2024. 🌍
