The Caribbean is experiencing a significant resurgence in travel demand for the summer of 2025, fueled by cultural events, growing interest from new international markets, and strategic industry initiatives. The latest Caribbean Travel Trends 2025 report, released jointly by ForwardKeys and the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) during the Caribbean Travel Forum in Antigua and Barbuda on May 19, outlines a strong outlook for the region in the third quarter of the year.
Regional Growth Driven by Key Markets
Overall, travel interest in the Caribbean remains robust. While traditional markets like the United States continue to dominate, emerging source markets are powering new growth. Travel intent from Canada is up by 22% year-over-year, with major Latin American countries—particularly Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil—also showing strong momentum. This broadening of inbound travel sources is creating new opportunities across the region.
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The Caribbean’s ability to diversify its visitor base is increasingly important as destinations seek to reduce seasonal reliance and promote year-round tourism.
Events Power Travel Intent Across the Region
Cultural and sporting events are playing a pivotal role in driving demand to multiple Caribbean islands. This summer’s ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, hosted in part by Barbados, has drawn fans from across the globe. In Puerto Rico, global music superstar Bad Bunny’s residency has triggered a travel spike of more than 500,000 international flight searches within a week of announcement, according to ForwardKeys.
Events such as Saint Lucia Carnival, Grenada’s Spicemas, and Antigua’s Carnival are also boosting regional visibility and bookings.
The Dominican Republic remains the most searched Caribbean destination for summer 2025, commanding 31.9% of all flight searches, with year-over-year growth of 7%. Puerto Rico follows closely, with a 44% increase in traveler interest, showing how strong event programming and improved connectivity can translate into tourism gains.
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However, the surge isn’t limited to just a few destinations. ForwardKeys reports increasing travel intent across the region, reflecting the Caribbean’s collective appeal, its range of offerings—from eco-tourism and adventure travel to luxury resorts and cultural experiences—and the growing importance of strategic marketing and airline partnerships.
Strategic Takeaways for Industry Stakeholders
The Caribbean Travel Trends 2025 report offers key insights to help regional tourism leaders and stakeholders align strategies with current demand patterns:
- Travel Intent Insights: A deep dive into where travelers are coming from and which destinations are gaining traction.
- Seasonality Solutions: Identifying ways to capture off-season demand using summer momentum from new markets.
- Traveler Profiles: Understanding different types of visitors—from short-stay event travelers to high-spending long-haul guests.
- Air Connectivity: How expanding and aligning airlift with demand can unlock further regional growth.
- Lead Time Trends: Using destination-specific booking windows to optimize marketing campaigns.
- Event Leverage: How festivals, concerts, and international sports can elevate entire island economies.
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As the Caribbean rides a wave of renewed global attention and increased flight connectivity, industry leaders are seizing the moment to build a more resilient, diversified, and sustainable tourism future. The data shows that travelers are not only returning but arriving in larger numbers—and with more purpose.
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