Caribbean tourist arrivals outpacing other major regions

By Michelle Nurse On Oct 23, 2015

From left: Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Richard Sealy; Curacao Minister of Economic Development, Stanley Palm and Executive Director of the CTO, Hugh Riley addressing media at a press conference at the SOTIC2015 at the World Trade Center in Willemstad, Curacao. (Photo by Janet Silvera via Jamaica Gleaner) — From left: Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Richard Sealy; Curacao Minister of Economic Development, Stanley Palm and Executive Director of the CTO, Hugh Riley addressing media at a press conference at the SOTIC2015 at the World Trade Center in Willemstad, Curacao. **(Photo by Janet Silvera via Jamaica Gleaner)**

Willemstad, Curacao: The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) is forecasting a five to six per cent growth in tourist arrivals for the region in 2015.

The news comes as the region outpaces all other major regions globally, with record numbers for the first six months of 2015.

“For the first six months the Caribbean welcomed 14.8 million, approximately 800 thousand or 5.8 per cent higher than the corresponding period in 2014, well above the 4.1 per cent recorded globally,” Richard Sealy, CTO chairman told journalists at a press conference at the close of the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC), now on in Willemstad, Curacao.

The Caribbean share of global arrivals stood at 2.8 per cent.