According to data analyzed by global travel intelligence
platform Mabrian, the Caribbean looks to be one of the most sought-after winter
escapes for American travelers.
Mabrian’s Share of Searches Index tracked flight searches in
the top 20 American airports, (representing 85 percent of the total
international air connectivity from the U.S.), during October, for trips
between November 2024 and February 2025. These include top performing Caribbean
destinations like the Mexican Caribbean, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Barbados,
Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Bahamas.
The U.S. is traditionally a strong key source market for the
Caribbean, especially during winter season. Comprising data from all Caribbean
destinations for 2023, the Caribbean Tourism Association (CTO) reported that the
U.S. accounts for approximately 16.3 million stay-over arrivals, growing 12.7
percent year over year and a considerably relevant inbound market for The
Caribbean that received approximately 32.2 million international travelers in
2023.
Costa Rica shows the most growth among all countries analyzed,
a 33 percent year over year increase. Of Costa Rica’s two main airports, demand
to the North Western Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport expanded 54
percent as the easiest to reach the coveted coastline of Tambor, Tamarindo
Papagayo Gulf, among others.
“Costa Rica’s inspirational demand increase is very uniform
throughout all the American airports analyzed, demonstrating that this is a
top-of-mind destination for American travelers during winter season, that looks
very positive and promising in terms of consolidated bookings and arrivals”,
says Carlos Cendra, Partner and Director of Marketing and Communications at
Mabrian.
Other Caribbean destinations exhibiting a growing trend in demand
include Puerto Rico (increasing 9 percent) compared to the same period in 2023,
The Mexican Caribbean (an average of 6 percent growth for Cancun, Cozumel, and
Tulum airports) and Dominican
Republic (an average 4 percent increase, pushed mainly by Santo Domingo’s
Las Americas Airport).
Tulum Airport, a powerful demand driver to the Mexican
Caribbean’s Quintana Roo remains strong for the coming winter season. The
opening of the new Felipe Carrillo Puerto Airport on December 1, 2023, is fueling
American travelers’ demand to the Mexican Caribbean, contributing to a 6
percent increase in travel between November 2024 and February 2025. With this
new airport, Share of Searches Index to Cozumel corrects slightly, showing a 9
percent year over year reduction with no affect to the growing demand travel
trend to Quintana Roo.
Mabrian data also reflects that inspirational demand to Yucatan
Peninsula travel between November 2024 and February 2025 to Cancun shows a 4
percent increase compared to the prior winter.
According to Mabrian’s spokesperson, “Tulum Airport will be
a significant attraction pole and connectivity hub for the Mexican Caribbean,
contributing significatively to attract more American and international
mid-high segment travelers in the coming years”.
Destinations conveying less interest among American winter
Caribbean travelers however include Jamaica (17 percent decrease in searches
than the prior winter prior) and the Bahamas (a 20 percent decrease.
Montego Bay demand reduces 23 percent compared to the same prior
period whereas interest in Kingston Town grows 12 percent year over year. Bahamas
data suggests a rise in travel demand to the alternative, laid-back Grand
Bahamas (6 percent increase) but a 22 percent demand decrease for Nassau. Barbados
remains stable with a 1 percent increase since winter 2023-2024.
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