Number of visitors to Caribbean tops 29m

The Caribbean received a record number of visitors last year as arrivals topped 29 million, tourism officials announced on Thursday, and they said growth should continue this year, though at a slightly slower pace due to uncertainty over US President Donald Trump and the impact of Britain’s move to leave the European Union.

Last year’s 4.2% jump marked the seventh consecutive year of growth for the Caribbean, which officials said was a result of relatively low oil prices and US economic growth.

The majority of tourists came from the United States, but there was also a more than 11% growth in visitors from Europe and the United Kingdom, according to Hugh Riley, secretary general for the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

Officials said cruise ship arrivals, which are counted separately, also set a record with 26.3 million arrivals.

Overall, tourists including cruise ship passengers spent $35.5 billion last year, a 3.5% increase from the previous year. But Riley said that despite more visitors entering the region, hotels reported a drop in occupancy rates.

“Arrivals to the Caribbean in 2017 are projected to grow somewhat more slowly, between 2.5-3.5%,’’ said Ryan Skeete, research director for the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organization.

“It’s a little bit unpredictable,’’ he said of Trump’s administration. “We’re still monitoring it very closely ... That’s all we can do.’’

Skeete said the fallout of Britain exiting the European Union also could affect the number of visitors this year.

Seven destinations reported double-digit growth rates last year, including the Turks & Caicos Islands, Cuba, Bermuda and the South American country of Guyana. Six other destinations reported a drop in visitors, including the Dutch Caribbean islands.

Visitors from South America dropped 11% last year, and those from Canada dropped nearly 3.5%.

“We haven’t reached anywhere close to our full potential,’’ Riley said.