Turks & Caicos leads UN Tourism Barometer’s list with 127% increase in tourist arrivals

Turks & Caicos have emerged as a leader in international tourism growth, ranking first in the United Nation Tourism’s assessment of the surge in international tourist arrivals. The UNWTO’s World Tourism Barometer report comprises of best performing destinations from January to December 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

With a remarkable 127% increase in arrivals, the country has demonstrated an impressive tourism recovery rate, surpassing many other major destinations as highlighted by the recently released World Tourism Barometer report. The country is followed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia with a 90% and 56% increase respectively. This significant accomplishment not only highlights the nation’s resilience but also positions it as a key player in the global tourism revival of the Caribbean region. Moreover, Turks & Caicos tourism sector has exhibited outstanding performance and attributes this success to its diverse tourism offerings.

Notably, four Caribbean destinations shone in the UN Tourism Barometer's assessment of best performing destinations from Jan to Dec 2023, which was driven by international tourist arrivals.

Turks & Caicos (+127%) was the leading destination for increased international arrivals and joining them are Curacao (+24%), Dominican Republic (+24%), and the US Virgin Islands (+23%), followed by Aruba (+10%) and Barbados (+7%).

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The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association congratulated all these countries and said, “Our dedicated hospitality and tourism professionals are the backbone of the exceptional Caribbean experience, ensuring that international tourists return time and again. Let's sustain this remarkable momentum and showcase our success to the world! Caribbean, soaring to new heights!”

The list of the top 20 countries in UNWTO’s World Tourism Barometer’s Best Performing Destinations in 2023 is as follows:

Turks & Caicos – +127% Qatar – +90% Saudi Arabia – +56% Albania – +53% El Salvador – +40% Colombia – +33% Andorra – +31% Ethiopia – +30% Curacao – +24% Dominican Republic – +24% US Virgin Islands – +23% Tanzania – +20% Liechtenstein – +16% Guatemala – +15% Iceland – +15% Serbia – +15% Oman – +14% Honduras – +12% Portugal – +11% Morocco – +11% Aruba – +10%