It's Not Who You'd Expect Flying To The Caribbean Right Now

By News Americas Now Travel Editor News Americas Now, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Oct. 6, 2026: Overall visitor demand to the Caribbean grew just 1 percent year-over-year between April 2025 and March 2026 – a sharp slowdown from the 21 percent and 8 percent gains the region posted in the two prior years – but a new travel trends report shows the real story is who's filling that gap. Demand from Latin American markets surged 24 percent year-over-year, and premium travel from South America skyrocketed 117 percent, according to the Amadeus-CHTA 2026 Caribbean Travel Trends report. Peru led the charge with 192 percent growth in premium travel bookings to the Caribbean, followed closely by Argentina at 164 percent. The shift marks a meaningful change in the makeup of Caribbean tourism, which has long been dominated by U.S., Canadian, and European visitors. As traditional source markets plateau, South American travelers – and specifically high-spending premium travelers from Peru and Argentina – are emerging as one of the fastest-growing visitor segments in the region. Industry analysts point to a combination of factors: growing middle- and upper-class travel budgets in parts of South America, improved air connectivity, and the Caribbean's positioning as an accessible, resort-driven alternative to longer-haul destinations. For Caribbean tourism boards and hoteliers, the trend suggests a strategic opening: as growth from legacy markets cools, courting South American travelers – particularly the premium segment – could be one of the clearest paths to keeping visitor numbers climbing.