With almost 12 million visitors by 2025, the Dominican Republic is set to become Latin America’s second-largest tourist destination, just behind Mexico. The announcement was made on February 27, 2026 by Luis Abinader during his State of the Nation address on the occasion of Independence Day.
Behind this figure – over 11.7 million visitors to be precise – lie major economic, geopolitical and structural challenges for a region of 11.5 million inhabitants. Tourism performance contrasts with a slowdown in economic growth, from 5.1% in 2024 to 2.1% in 2025.
11.7 million visitors: a performance on a national scale
According to the Dominican Head of State, 2025 will see annual growth of 4.3%, i.e. almost 500,000 more visitors than in 2024, and over 4 million more than in 2019. One indicator is particularly striking: the country now receives more than one visitor per inhabitant. Few destinations achieve this ratio. In the Caribbean and Latin American space, this places the Dominican Republic in the category of the world’s major tourist powers. The country, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, thus confirms its position as a major hub for regional tourism.
Cruises: over 3 million passengers
This performance is not based solely on air tourism. The Dominican Republic welcomed over 3 million cruise passengers in 2025, representing 6% growth over 2024. This maritime dynamic consolidates the country’s position on Caribbean itineraries. It also boosts indirect economic spin-offs: excursions, catering, port services and logistics.
Dominican tourism thus relies on a double strength:
- – seaside resorts with high hotel capacity,
- – the rise of cruise ports.
Punta Cana and Santo Domingo: two structuring pillars
The Dominican Republic’s international reputation remains closely linked to its beaches, particularly those of Punta Cana in the east of the country. The all-inclusive model remains dominant, structured around large hotel complexes. Conversely, Santo Domingo offers a different view of the country, based on its colonial architecture and World Heritage-listed historic center. This seaside/heritage duality enables the destination to diversify its appeal.
It is precisely this combination that explains the resilience of the Dominican model: a massive offer, but also a cultural dimension that can be exploited.
Economic growth slows sharply
While tourism is posting record figures, the Dominican economy is marking time. Growth has fallen to 2.1% in 2025, from 5.1% in 2024, below even the 2.5% forecast by the central bank. However, the President noted that by January 2026, growth had already reached 3.5%, with a projection of 4.5% for the current year.
This discrepancy between tourism performance and the global slowdown raises a central question: can tourism alone sustain national growth?
The technological gamble: agreement with Google and space ambitions
During his speech, Luis Abinader mentioned an agreement worth over 500 million dollars signed with Google for the construction of the first international digital exchange port in Latin America. This project positions the Dominican Republic in the strategic field of digital infrastructures.
Even more symbolic was the announcement that no rocket or satellite would be launched from Dominican territory before 2028. This statement reflects the country’s determination to pursue a path of technological innovation that goes beyond tourism.
French market: a strategic objective
Around 150,000 French people visit the Dominican Republic every year. The French market is considered a priority, with a target of 260,000 French visitors by 2026. The resumption of direct flights by Air France reinforces this ambition. The country is also counting on the presence of the world’s largest Club Med on its territory to attract European customers.
For the wider Caribbean, this orientation confirms a strategic repositioning: consolidating Europe as a stable issuing market in the face of North American fluctuations.
Latin America's second-biggest destination: a strategic turning point
Becoming Latin America’s second-largest tourist destination is not just a political slogan. It’s a structural marker. With over 11.7 million visitors, annual growth of 4.3%, more than 3 million cruise passengers and an exceptional visitor/inhabitant ratio, the Dominican Republic has confirmed its status as a Caribbean powerhouse. But the year 2025 also shows that tourism performance does not automatically guarantee equivalent economic expansion.
The Dominican Republic welcomed over 11.7 million visitors in 2025, representing annual growth of 4.3%. This volume places the country just behind Mexico and confirms its status as a regional tourism powerhouse.
The country has registered over 3 million cruise passengers in 2025, up 6% on 2024. Marine tourism is a major pillar of the country’s tourism economy.
Despite record tourism performance, economic growth is forecast at 2.1% in 2025, compared with 5.1% in 2024. Projections for 2026 point to a rebound to around 4.5%.
Located in the western Caribbean Sea, San Andrés is a Colombian territory in a class of its own. Closer to Nicaragua than to the South American continent, the island has a singular island identity, shaped by its maritime history, Afro-Caribbean culture and strategic role in the region. For travellers, San Andrés represents a structured, clear destination with a strong maritime orientation.
The island covers some 26 km². Its modest size makes it easy to get around and quickly grasp its organization. Coastal roads, residential areas and natural zones follow one another seamlessly, giving the whole a territorial coherence that visitors appreciate.
A Colombian island in the heart of the western Caribbean
Although administratively attached to Colombia, San Andrés belongs fully to the English-speaking and Creole-speaking Caribbean. The local population, known as raizal, retains cultural traditions linked to the British Caribbean: Creole language, musical and culinary practices, community organization. This hybrid identity – Colombian in administration, Caribbean in culture – is one of the island’s distinguishing features. It is reflected in daily life, trade and religious practices.
It is also a strategic point in the region, located some 190 kilometers off the coast of Nicaragua. This geographical position reinforces its historical and maritime importance in the Western Caribbean.
The sea as a central element
The image most associated with San Andrés remains that of the “sea of seven colors”. This expression refers to the variations in blue and turquoise visible around the island, linked to the depth of the water, the sandy seabed and the coral reefs. The phenomenon is particularly visible from the east coast and high points along the coastline. The coral reef that partially surrounds the island protects certain areas and supports significant marine biodiversity. The archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina is part of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO for its ecological richness.
This close relationship with the sea underpins all aspects of island life: artisanal fishing, maritime transport, nautical activities and seaside tourism.
An accessible, organized region
The main urban center of San Andrés is built around the port and shopping area. Hotels, shops and services are concentrated along the northern coastline. Residential areas and quieter zones are spread out to the south and inland. The Gustavo Rojas Pinilla international airport provides regular flights to Bogotá, Medellín, Panama and other regional destinations. This accessibility partly explains the island’s constant tourist numbers.
Despite all this traffic, San Andrés has kept its organization simple: one main road circles the island, making it possible to cover the whole area in just a few hours. This configuration makes it easy to get around and provides a clear overview of the territory.
An economy largely driven by tourism
Tourism is the main economic engine of San Andrés. Hotels, restaurants, nautical activities and duty-free shops structure the local economy. The island benefits from the status of a commercial free zone, which also attracts visitors who come to shop. However, fishing and public services continue to play an important role in the local economy. The cohabitation of tourism and daily life is clearly visible, particularly in the residential areas and markets.
Between frequentation and preservation
The popularity of San Andrés raises the question of the balance between tourist numbers and the protection of natural resources. Local and national authorities have introduced measures to preserve coral reefs and regulate certain tourist flows. The archipelago’s inclusion in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve is part of this approach.
For visitors, this translates into a destination that’s alive and kicking, but still easy to understand. The island is more than just a seaside resort: it remains an inhabited territory, with its own rhythms and constraints.
A unique island Caribbean
Highlight San Andrés is to present an island that exemplifies Caribbean diversity. A Colombian territory but with an Afro-Caribbean culture, a tourist destination but an active island space, it combines several dimensions rarely found together in such a small area. For travelers, it offers a clear framework: a compact island, an omnipresent sea and a strong cultural identity. It provides a solid entry point for understanding the Western Caribbean and its interactions between geography, history and tourism.
San Andrés is a Colombian island in the western Caribbean Sea, close to Nicaragua.
It is renowned for its seven-colored sea, coral reefs and membership of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve.
The island is accessible by air from Bogotá, Medellín, Panama and several Caribbean cities.
French Guiana reaches a milestone in 2025. With 167,036 registered tourists 142,000 in 2024, the region’s tourism dynamic is now structural. Behind this growth, the figures unveiled by the French Guiana Tourist Board and the Tourism Observatory reflect much more than a rise in visitor numbers: they point to economic consolidation, diversification of the customer base and the destination’s growing importance in its regional environment.
This development deserves a closer look. Because beyond the statistics, it reveals what Guyana is really becoming in the Caribbean and South American tourism ecosystem.
Measurable growth confirms the region's appeal
The year 2025 ended with 167,036 tourists, a significant increase over 2024. This growth is based on three complementary segments:
- – 92,229 external visitors an increase of 7.5
- – 8,307 cruise passengers
- – 66,500 endogenous tourists i.e. Guyanese who have made at least one tourist trip to the region.
This structure confirms an essential development: tourism in French Guiana no longer relies solely on international visitors. Domestic tourism is now a mainstay of the sector, contributing to economic resilience and year-round visitor numbers.
A tourism economy that generates tangible benefits
Economic benefits will reach 160.6 million euros in 2025 an increase of 7.1%. This figure reflects the direct impact of tourism on the local economy: accommodation, catering, transport, cultural activities and services. Total overnight stays amounted to 1.63 million an increase of 9.3%. This increase shows that the destination is not only attracting more visitors, but is also managing to keep them for longer. The average length of stay remained stable at 17.6 days a particularly high figure for the Caribbean.
For the local economy, this stability means spending spread over time and a better redistribution of income throughout the region.
Consolidating air connectivity
Traffic at Cayenne Félix-Éboué airport reaches 242,055 outbound passengers. This represents a 4% increase on 2024 and a 64% increase on 2021. This increase confirms the return to a high level of mobility after the years marked by health restrictions. Overall air traffic is up by 8,5%. This is a sign of a real intensification of traffic flows. This development reinforces the region’s accessibility and directly supports growth in tourism. It also confirms the airport’s strategic role as the main point of entry.
For tourism professionals, this connectivity is a major lever: it determines the region’s ability to attract new markets and retain existing visitors.
Mainly French customers, but diversifying
Data for 2025 indicate that 60.1% of external visitors come from mainland France. This is still the mainstay of Guyanese tourism, which has historically been linked to travel between French Guiana and mainland France. However, one trend has been confirmed: Caribbean customers are on the rise. The Martinique market, in particular, is experiencing significant growth, driven by an increase in leisure tourism. This dynamic opens up important regional prospects, particularly in terms of tourism cooperation and intra-Caribbean mobility.
The challenge now is to raise its profile in the Caribbean region while consolidating its traditional customer base.
Reasons for staying in French Guiana reflect the region's positioning
The dominant reasons for staying are still :
- – Professionals: 36.3
- – Affinity: 35.7
This structure distinguishes French Guiana from many other Caribbean destinations, which are mainly oriented towards beach tourism. The territory retains a strong professional and institutional dimension, linked in particular to the Guiana Space Center and administrative activities.
However, leisure tourism is on the increase, supported by rising consumer spending and greater appreciation of the region’s natural and cultural assets. This trend reflects a gradual repositioning towards a destination of discovery, complementary to other Caribbean territories.
Exceptional levels of satisfaction
Visitor satisfaction rate reaches 98,7% confirming the quality of the experience on offer. This very high level of satisfaction is a strategic indicator: it promotes word-of-mouth, feedback and the destination’s international reputation. For industry players, this satisfaction is based on several elements: the welcome, the cultural richness, the diversity of landscapes and the authenticity of the Guyanese experience. It also represents a competitive advantage in a regional context where destinations are seeking to differentiate themselves.
What these results mean for French Guiana and the Caribbean
Progress in tourism is not limited to internal improvements. It is gradually redefining the area’s place in the region.
For French Guiana, these results confirm the relevance of the strategies undertaken: developing the offer, strengthening partnerships, targeted promotion and improving customer knowledge. They also provide a solid foundation to guide future investments. On a Caribbean scale, the rise of French Guiana is helping to diversify the regional offer. It offers a complementary alternative to traditional seaside destinations, focusing on nature, culture and immersive experiences.
2025, a pivotal year for Guyanese tourism
The year 2025 marks a phase of consolidation. Indicators confirm real growth, underpinned by rising visitor numbers, increased economic spin-offs and a high level of satisfaction. In 2026, the Guiana Tourism Board intends to continue its promotional activities and its support for industry players. The objective is clear: to transform this growth into a sustainable dynamic, capable of boosting the region’s appeal over the long term.
With its now solid foundations, French Guiana is asserting itself as a destination in the process of structuring itself, whose development deserves particular attention in the years to come, both for the territory itself and for the Caribbean as a whole.
French Guiana recorded 167,035 tourists in 2025, compared with 142,000 in 2024. This increase confirms solid, sustainable growth in the region’s tourist numbers.
The economic impact of tourism in French Guiana reached 160.6 million euros in 2025, an increase of over 7%. The sector has a direct impact on accommodation, catering, transport and cultural activities.
By 2025, 60.1% of outbound visitors will be from mainland France. Caribbean customers are also on the rise, particularly from Martinique, a sign of growing regional interest in Guiana as a destination.
In the U.S. Virgin Islands, Saint John occupies a singular place. More discreet than St. Thomas, less urbanized, it was built around a simple principle: preserve your land. Today, almost 60% of the island is part of the Virgin Islands National Park, directly shaping its landscape, economy and organization.
For travelers, Saint John represents a legible destination: a compact island, accessible beaches, a structuring national park and local life concentrated around a main center, Cruz Bay. This configuration makes it possible to quickly understand the territory, without dispersion or saturation.
A large-scale protected island
Virgin Islands National Park was created in 1956 thanks to a major land donation. Since then, it has covered most of Saint John’s land territory, as well as protected marine areas. This configuration limits real estate development and maintains large areas of unspoiled nature. Tropical dry forests, hills, mangroves and coral reefs make up most of the landscape. Roads are few and far between, and inhabited areas are concentrated mainly around Cruz Bay and Coral Bay. This territorial organization gives the island an airy character, without excessive urban continuity, which reinforces the feeling of space for visitors.
The national park also offers signposted trails through old plantations, viewpoints and forested areas. For travelers interested in history and nature, these trails offer a complete overview of the territory. The island can be explored both on foot and by sea.
Accessible but unspoilt beaches
Saint John is renowned for its clear beaches bordered by reef-protected waters. Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay and Maho Bay are among the best-known sites. What they all have in common is that they are part of the national park and benefit from strict environmental protection. Access is provided, but construction remains limited. The aim is to keep visitor numbers under control and preserve marine ecosystems. This approach reinforces the image of an island focused on quality rather than tourist density.
Some of the less-frequented beaches also reveal a different facet of the coastline. They are a reminder that the island retains many open spaces, free from intensive occupation. This availability contributes to the balance between visitors and residents.
A history visible in the landscape
Before becoming an American territory in 1917, Saint John was part of the Danish West Indies. The island has preserved traces of this period, notably through the ruins of sugar plantations scattered throughout the national park. These remains are a reminder of the colonial economy based on sugar cane and forced labor. Today, they are historical landmarks accessible to visitors, often linked by footpaths. History isn’t just to be found in museums: it’s inscribed in the landscape, stone walls and ancient farm tracks.
A controlled tourism economy
Tourism is Saint John’s main economic driver. Unlike other Caribbean destinations, the island has no international airport. Access is by ferry from St. Thomas, which naturally limits visitor flows and encourages a gradual arrival of visitors. This logistical constraint contributes to the balance of the region. Stays are generally longer, encouraging more attentive discovery. The accommodation offer is based on medium-sized hotels, villas and private rentals, rather than large complexes. This organization maintains a human scale.
Simple organization for travellers
The center of Cruz Bay is home to shops, restaurants and services. Coral Bay, further east, is more residential and less busy. Travel is mainly by car, as the roads are hilly and narrow. This configuration encourages you to take it easy and explore the island gradually. To reach Saint John, you must first land in Saint-Thomas, then take a twenty-minute ferry ride. This maritime transition marks your entry into a different territory, where the sea remains omnipresent.
A coherent Caribbean destination
Highlighting Saint John means presenting an island where land protection structures all development. The predominant presence of the national park limits urbanization, controls access to beaches and preserves landforms. For travelers, the island offers a clear combination of protected nature, accessible beaches, visible historical heritage and sufficient infrastructure. Saint John doesn’t seek to multiply its attractions; it offers a stable, organized and sustainable territory turned towards the sea. This coherence gives the island a special value in the contemporary Caribbean, where land management is becoming a central issue for the future of island tourism.
Saint John is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands in the eastern Caribbean, east of Puerto Rico and close to St. Thomas.
The island is famous for the Virgin Islands National Park, which protects around 60% of its territory, as well as for its beaches and coral reefs.
You’ll need to fly into St. Thomas, then take the ferry to Saint John in about twenty minutes.
Every February 19th, International Whale Day invites us to celebrate these emblematic marine mammals and reflect on their essential role in the health of the oceans. In the Caribbean, International Whale Day resonates with particular intensity: here, the turquoise waters become the scene of a natural ballet that attracts visitors from all over the world, combining wonder, environmental commitment and responsible tourism.
This region is no longer just a migratory stopover for humpback whales. It has become, for curious travelers and nature enthusiasts, a must-see destination for a unique cetacean-watching experience.
A well-established migration season, already active in 2025
The annual migration of humpback whales to the warm waters of the Caribbean continues to be a major seasonal phenomenon. Scientists and local observers confirm that the first individuals are seen as early as January, and that their presence intensifies throughout the following months. This spectacular migration, visible from the waters off Guadeloupe to the protected marine areas of the Dominican Republic, offers a prime viewing window for visitors between December and April, with peak activity often recorded around February and March – precisely when the Caribbean celebrates International Whale Day.
For travellers, these months represent the ideal time to combine vacations, the discovery of marine biodiversity and responsible tourism.
The Caribbean in the global cetacean ecosystem
The Caribbean region is home to a wide variety of cetaceans: whales, sperm whales and dolphins frequent these rich waters at different times of the year. According to the data collected, several species of mysticetes (baleen whales) and odontocetes (toothed whales and dolphins) are present, some permanently, others in transit.
This diversity enriches the observation experience and makes the Caribbean a global world crossroads for the study and conservation of marine mammals. It also offers visitors the chance to see different species on the same expedition.
A real and growing impact on tourism (2024-2025)
Although figures on whale-watching tourism in the Caribbean are still fragmentary, it is undeniable that this activity attracts a significant number of foreign visitors each season. In some of the region’s cruise ports, for example, over 375,000 passengers are expected during the 2024-2025 season, reflecting the strength of the island’s tourism sector as a whole.
If we take into account that whale watching is often integrated into these maritime experiences (excursions, nature stopovers, marine safaris), this shows the extent to which cetaceans have become a strong attraction in the Caribbean tourism offer.
In the most famous areas, such as Samaná Bay in the Dominican Republic, whale-watching activity is already recognized as one of the most important in the region. Dozens if not hundreds of individuals are identified each season, reflecting the importance of this marine area for the breeding and rearing of young whales.
Biodiversity as an attraction
What sets the Caribbean experience apart is the combination of natural spectacle and exceptional biodiversity. Unlike purely visual marine safaris, whale-watching trips here take place in a rich ecological context where different types of cetaceans co-exist: humpback whales, sperm whales and dolphin species, each with their own unique behaviors.
Passionate travelers have the opportunity not only to see these animals, but also to learn more about their life cycles, underwater songs and migration strategies – a scientific and educational dimension that simply transforms “observing” into “understanding”.
Exceptional observation hotspots
The Caribbean boasts several remarkable observation sites:
- – Samaná Bay (Dominican Republic): renowned for hosting numerous humpback whales during their breeding and calving periods.
- – The coasts of Guadeloupe particularly around the islands of Les Saintes and Marie-Galante, offer excellent conditions for watching spectacular whale jumps.
- – Silver Bank (off the coast of the Dominican Republic): a marine sanctuary where you can sometimes enjoy more immersive experiences.
- – French departments of America (Guadeloupe, Martinique) part of the Agoa sanctuary, which protects over 143,000 km² dedicated to marine mammals.
Responsible tourism: challenges and best practices
The growth of whale-watching tourism is not without its challenges. It involves a shared responsibility between tourism operators, local authorities and the travellers themselves. In many areas, ethical approach protocols have been adopted to minimize stress on the animals. These include respectful approach distances, speed limits at sea, controlled observation times, and a ban on swimming with whales without strict scientific supervision.
For travelers, choosing certified service providers committed to conservation has become a marker of quality experience. It’s also a concrete way of supporting sustainable tourism: by respecting the rules, you protect the animals while promoting responsible economic activity that benefits local communities.
An unforgettable human and ecological experience
International Whale Day is a reminder that these species are both jewels of biodiversity and vectors of connection between man and nature. For tourists visiting the Caribbean, whale watching is an encounter with an ancient animal intelligence, an immersion in a unique migratory cycle and an awareness of the importance of preserving these marine giants.
Witnessing these encounters, whether it’s a whale calf playing on the surface or a mother accompanying her calf, is rarely an indifferent experience. And for those with a passion for the Caribbean, the experience becomes a must. source of inspiration and commitment to protecting the oceans.
A call to action as conscious travelers
On International Whale Day, the Caribbean reminds us that it’s not just a postcard destination: it’s a living hub of marine biodiversity, where natural beauty meets environmental responsibility. For travelers and enthusiasts alike, International Whale Day is an invitation to enjoy authentic, informed and respectful experiences, enriching not only their stay but also their understanding of the marine world around us.
Every whale-watching excursion can become a moment of sharing, knowledge and respect, a personal contribution to the preservation of these giants of the sea, today and for future generations.
International Whale Day coincides with the peak migration season of humpback whales to the warm waters of the Caribbean. This makes the region a major breeding and whale-watching site, reinforcing its role in the preservation of marine biodiversity and the development of sustainable tourism.
The whale-watching season generally runs from December to April, with a peak between February and March. It is during this period that humpback whales calve in Caribbean waters, offering visitors ideal viewing conditions.
Yes, when governed by strict rules. Many Caribbean territories apply regulated approach protocols: minimum distance, limited number of boats, controlled speed and operator training. Choosing a certified service provider is essential to guarantee a responsible and sustainable experience.
Anguilla has reached a major milestone in its tourism development. In 2025, the island recorded 229,734 visitors its highest number of arrivals in 33 years according to official data from the Department of Statistics and the Anguilla Tourist Board. This performance represents an increase of 11.2% compared to 2024 and confirms the strength of this Caribbean territory’s tourism model.
In a regional context marked by intense competition between destinations, Anguilla has demonstrated its ability to maintain a premium positioning while increasing its visitor numbers.
Anguilla reaches a historic milestone in 2025
The year 2025 will remain a benchmark for the island, which achieves its highest annual visitor volume in over three decades. With 229,734 arrivals, the destination is not only outperforming its recent performance, but also the levels recorded prior to the pandemic. The increase in 11,2 % compared to 2024 illustrates a controlled growth dynamic. It is based on a targeted promotional strategy, continuous improvement of the tourism offering and close collaboration between public and private players in the sector.
This performance also confirms Anguilla’s resilience in the face of fluctuations in the global tourism market, and its ability to maintain a high level of attractiveness to a demanding international clientele.
Growth driven by two complementary segments
The island’s tourism success in 2025 is based on the positive evolution of two major visitor categories: stayover tourists and day-trippers. Stay-over visitors, who spend at least one night on the island, have reached 114,965 arrivals. These figures testify to the good health of the hotel sector and the upscale accommodation on offer. At the same time, the number of day-trippers reached 114,769 arrivals confirming the importance of regional flows.
This complementarity between extended stays and short-term visits is one of the pillars of the island’s tourism model. It enables the island to benefit from a high overall volume of visitors, while diversifying its economic spin-offs.
A particularly dynamic end to 2025
Tourism performance in Anguilla was reinforced by a particularly active final quarter. The month of december 2025 was the best-performing of the year, with 28,855 visitors. This illustrates the attractiveness of the destination during the peak winter season. The months of January, February and March also posted solid results, confirming the loyalty of international customers during the main tourist season. This concentration of arrivals in strategic periods underlines the effectiveness of promotional campaigns in priority markets. In this way, the island is able to consolidate its visitor numbers throughout the year, while capitalizing on its periods of strong demand.
The U.S. market, the main driver of visitor numbers
The U.S. market remains the main contributor to the island’s performance. By 2025, American visitors will account for around 70% of tourist arrivals. This confirms the strategic importance of this customer base. This dominance can be explained by several factors: geographical proximity, accessibility via regional hubs, and Anguilla’s reputation as a high-end, secure destination. Canada and Europe complete the picture, making a more moderate but stable contribution.
However, the gradual diversification of markets remains an objective for tourism authorities, who wish to reduce dependence on a single source.
A quality-oriented tourism strategy
The island’s positioning is based on a clear strategy: quality of experience rather than massification. The island continues to focus on specific segments such as luxury tourism, gastronomy, weddings and wellness holidays. This orientation enables the island to maintain a high level of spending per visitor, while preserving its identity. It also encourages balanced tourism development that respects the environment and local communities.
The results for 2025 demonstrate the relevance of this approach. The island has succeeded in increasing its visitor numbers without compromising its image or the quality of its offering.
A strong signal for the entire Caribbean
Performance in 2025 is a positive indicator for the Caribbean region as a whole. It confirms the sustainable recovery of tourism in the area, and the ability of island destinations to attract a high value-added international clientele. In a changing global tourism environment, the island stands as an example of strategic management and coherent development of its tourism industry. The year 2025 offers encouraging prospects for the years to come.
Anguilla welcomed 229,734 visitors in 2025, its highest level in 33 years. This 11.2% increase can be attributed to the upturn in international tourism and the strength of Anguilla’s upmarket positioning.
The United States is Anguilla’s leading outbound market, accounting for around 70% of visitors, followed by Canada and Europe.
This record strengthens Anguilla’s tourism economy, supports local employment and confirms the island’s place among the Caribbean’s premium destinations.
At the heart of the port of Fort-de-France, the Tourelles Cruise Terminal has taken a new step in its evolution by becoming a genuine cultural space. In the midst of Martinique’s carnival season, this reception area is transformed into a lively stage where international visitors, artists and locals meet.
On Saturday February 14, the inauguration of a 200 m² cultural space within the tourelles cruise terminal marked a turning point: making the port a place open to the city, rooted in Martinique’s identity. As soon as they disembark or before boarding, cruise passengers and travelers are immersed in the excitement of Carnival, enjoying an immediate and authentic cultural experience. This initiative comes at a time when cruise tourism is growing steadily in Martinique, confirming the port’s strategic role in the cultural enhancement of the region.
A new cultural space in the heart of the port
Designed as a multi-purpose venue combining culture, conviviality and mediation, this new space at the Tourelles cruise terminal hosts ephemeral exhibitions, artistic encounters and one-off events. Equipped with screens and a digital connection, it is designed to be accessible to cruise passengers and local residents alike.
The objective is clear: to offer international visitors a first cultural immersion on arrival, while offering Martinique residents a space for artistic expression within the port itself. This positioning reflects the desire of the Grand Port Maritime de la Martinique to assert itself as a cultural player in its own right, at the service of the region.
For several years now, Fort-de-France’s cruise terminals have been designed as reception and discovery areas, integrating craft villages and events for passengers in port. However, the opening of this cultural space marks a further step: that of a permanent artistic presence.
When Carnival enters the terminal
To inaugurate this new venue, Carnival was a natural choice. At the start of the carnival season, masks and wearers took over the tourelles cruise terminal in a lively performance combining a parade, music and direct interaction with visitors. The masks, which had been on display for two months, left their immobility behind and went into motion. Crossing the terminal right up to the ships in port, they offered cruise passengers an immediate immersion in Martinique’s carnival imagination.
This encounter between international visitors and local identity transforms the transit area into a genuine cultural experience. Tourists, Martinican families and children present during the school vacations were able to photograph, interact and get caught up in the Carnival atmosphere before even reaching the city. In addition to the show, the initiative was a response to a precise strategy: to enable travelers to discover local crafts and culture as soon as they arrived, but also to offer departing passengers the opportunity to take home a tangible souvenir of Martinique.
Sylviane Enelada's masks: between sea, ecology and memory
At the heart of this immersive exhibition are the creations of visual artist and actress Sylviane Enelada, artistic director of the LAPERKUT association. His work, developed over several years, draws on the marine world to question the relationship between man and his environment. Inspired by the ocean floor, his masks evoke fish, anemones, corals and hybrid creatures. But behind the carnivalesque aesthetic lies a deeper message: the fragility of marine ecosystems and the impact of plastic on the oceans. The dialogue between recycled materials and organic forms becomes a visual metaphor for the relationship between man, the sea and pollution.
Presented at the Tourelles cruise terminal since December, the exhibition has found a natural extension in the carnival movement. Bringing the masks to life, taking them out of the exhibition space and into the public eye, corresponds to a desire to circulate art and create a direct dialogue with spectators. Fourteen exhibitors, wearers and students collaborated on this collective project, combining artistic creation and transmission.
Transmission, craftsmanship and the therapeutic dimension
Behind each mask lies precise handwork: papier-mâché, foam, polystyrene, acrylic paint and patient assembly. At the association, mask-making is also seen as a form of self-expression. For some participants, creating a mask is a way of releasing tensions and emotions, transforming the workshop into a space of liberation and sharing. This therapeutic dimension reinforces the social scope of the project, where art becomes a tool for transmission and cohesion.
Sylviane Enelada’s workshops are part of this approach: to pass on a passion, to initiate the younger generations and to remind them that the mask, present in many cultures around the world, remains a universal symbol of expression and identity.
Tourism, culture and Martinique's identity: a new vision for the port
The event organized at the Tourelles cruise terminal is much more than a one-off. It illustrates a broader evolution: that of a port that positions itself as a crossroads between tourism, culture and citizenship. On an island where Carnival is a major marker of collective identity, the integration of artistic expression within the port enhances the visitor experience while promoting local talent.
Transforming the Tourelles cruise terminal As a meeting place for cruise passengers and Martinique’s culture, the Grand Port Maritime is laying the foundations for a cultural and digital living space that will evolve over the coming months. A way of asserting that, from now on, the voyage begins at the port, and that it can also be an encounter with the artistic soul of a territory.
The tourelles cruise terminal, thus confirms its role as a bridge between tourism and culture. The tourelles cruise terminal intends to reinforce this artistic immersion at every port of call. For visitors and locals alike, the tourelles cruise terminal becomes a meeting point. With this initiative, the tourelles cruise terminal is part of a sustainable cultural dynamic. In the future, the tourelles cruise terminal could become a key venue in Martinique’s artistic life.
On Saturday February 14, a cultural and carnival event marked the launch of a new 200 m² cultural space with an immersive mask exhibition and an artistic parade in the heart of the terminal.
The mask exhibition was organized by the LAPERKUT association under the artistic direction of Martinican artist Sylviane Enelada, with the participation of artists, wearers and students.
The Grand Port Maritime de la Martinique wants to transform the terminal into a living space, accessible to citizens and cruise passengers alike, to showcase Martinique’s arts, crafts and cultural identity from the moment visitors arrive.
On Colombia‘s Caribbean coast, Cartagena de Indias has established itself as one of the region’s most structuring areas. A port city founded in the XVIᵉ century, it has long been a strategic point for Spanish maritime trade. Today, it remains a major destination for travelers attracted by history, architecture and the Caribbean coastline.
Cartagena de Indias is more than just a seaside resort. It’s an active, inhabited city whose identity is built around its port, fortifications and historic districts. For visitors, it offers a direct view of the continental Caribbean and its heritage.
A port city at the heart of Caribbean history
Founded in 1533, Cartagena de Indias quickly became one of the Spanish Empire’s most important ports in the Americas. It served as an export point for the continent’s gold, silver and other resources, as well as a military center to protect the sea routes. The fortified city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, bears witness to this strategic importance. Ramparts, bastions and forts still encircle the historic center. These defensive structures, built to repel attacks by pirates and rival powers, give Cartagena its distinctive silhouette.
A stroll through the historic center reveals how the town was organized around the sea. Squares, churches, administrative buildings and colonial houses follow an urban plan that has remained largely intact.
Preserved, inhabited architecture
The historic heart of Cartagena de Indias is made up of several distinct districts: the fortified center, Getsemaní and the old port areas. Colorful facades, wooden balconies and cobbled streets form a coherent whole, where tourist activity blends with everyday life. Getsemaní, once a working-class port district, has undergone a cultural revival in recent years. Artists’ studios, cafés, lively squares and murals are all to be found here. This transformation has not erased the presence of local residents, maintaining a balance between tourist traffic and local life.
A constant relationship with the sea
The sea remains a structuring element for Cartagena de Indias. The modern port is home to cargo ships, cruise liners and fishing boats. The quays and coastal promenades offer a glimpse of the continuity between economic activity and the maritime landscape. A few dozen kilometers offshore, the archipelago of the Rosary Islands (Islas del Rosario) complete this relationship with the sea. These islets, part of a national nature park, are renowned for their clear waters and coral reefs. They are one of the main excursions for visitors wishing to get away from the city for a day.
A city on the move
With more than a million inhabitants in its urban area, Cartagena de Indias is also a bustling contemporary city. Modern districts, port areas and hotel infrastructures coexist with historic sectors. This overlapping of eras is part of its identity. Visitors can easily move from a colonial street to a modern avenue, from a local market to a marina. This diversity reinforces the impression of a living city, not stuck in the past.
Access and organization
Cartagena de Indias has an international airport well connected to the major cities of Latin America, the USA and Europe. From Rafael Núñez airport, the historic center can be reached in less than twenty minutes. The city is ideal for both short and longer stays. Discoveries can be organized around the historic center, contemporary neighborhoods, the coastline and sea excursions to nearby islands.
A key Caribbean destination
Highlighting Cartagena de Indias is to present a territory that encapsulates several essential dimensions of the Caribbean:
- – a central colonial history;
- – a major architectural heritage ;
- – a busy port city ;
- – direct access to the sea and islands.
For travelers, Cartagena is a solid point of entry to the continental Caribbean. It provides an insight into maritime traffic, historical exchanges and the evolution of the region’s port cities. Cartagena de Indias is not just a tourist destination. It’s a territory that tells the story of the Caribbean in its continuity, between memory and the present.
Cartagena de Indias is located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, in the north of the country, facing the Caribbean Sea.
Its fortified historic center, ramparts and colonial architecture bear witness to its strategic role in the maritime history of the Caribbean.
The busiest period is from December to April, when the climate is drier. Despite the high humidity, the city can be visited all year round.
In the Turks & Caicos archipelago, a British overseas territory in the northern Caribbean, Providenciales has established itself as the main island for international visitors. Renowned for the clarity of its waters and the regularity of its climate, it is now one of the region’s most structured tourist hubs, while retaining a legible territorial scale.
Providenciales is not a huge island: it covers some 98 km². Yet it is the main focus of the archipelago’s economic and tourist activity. Its simple geography – continuous coastline, spaced residential areas, nature reserves – makes it easy to understand the territory as soon as you arrive.
An island in the heart of Turks and Caicos
The Turks and Caicos comprise some 40 islands and cays, but only a fraction of them are inhabited. Providenciales is today its economic and tourist center. The island’s international airport provides the majority of connections with North America, the Caribbean and Europe.
Tourist development on Providenciales accelerated in the 1980s. Unlike other destinations in the region, the island experienced gradual growth, accompanied by a framework for construction and protection of the coastline. This evolution has preserved the accessibility of the beaches and kept the natural areas intact.
Grace Bay, an iconic coastline
The name Providenciales is inextricably linked with Grace Bay. This vast strip of clear sand stretches for more than 10 kilometers along the north coast. This beach is regularly cited as one of the most remarkable in the Caribbean for its clear water, soft sand and low currents.
The offshore coral reef protects the coast, creating generally calm seas. This natural configuration favors swimming, light boating and marine observation. Public access to beaches is guaranteed along the entire coastline, helping to maintain a balance between tourism infrastructure and public use.
A protected marine environment
Around the island, several marine areas are protected. The Princess Alexandra National Park covers a significant part of the coastline and reefs. These areas are home to seagrass beds, coral and tropical fauna, essential to the island’s ecological balance and diving activities.
The management of these areas aims to reconcile tourist traffic with the preservation of ecosystems. Nautical activities are regulated in certain areas to limit the impact on the seabed.
A clear territorial organization
The island is organized around several sectors:
- – Grace Bay and Leeward for tourist accommodation;
- – the center of Providenciales for services and shops;
- – Chalk Sound and the south coast for more residential and natural areas.
This distribution avoids over-concentration and keeps traffic flowing smoothly. Distances are kept short, making it easier to explore the island without long journeys.
An economy largely driven by tourism
Tourism is the island’s main economic driver. Hotels, villas, restaurants and related services employ a significant proportion of the population. However, the island also retains sea-related activities: fishing, shipping and port services.
The presence of an international population, notably from other Caribbean islands, the UK and North America, contributes to the cultural diversity visible in daily life.
Access and stay
The island is accessible via Providenciales International Airport (PLS). Direct flights link the island to Miami, New York, Toronto, London and several Caribbean capitals. This accessibility largely explains its central role in the archipelago.
Locally, travel is mainly by car. The well-maintained road network makes it easy to reach the different areas of the island.
A structured Caribbean destination
This is an island that has built its tourism development without sacrificing the legibility of its territory. The coastline remains open, natural areas are still visible and economic activity is largely based on the sea.
For travellers, Providenciales offers a stable, comprehensible and accessible framework. It is one of the Caribbean’s most structured destinations for a seaside holiday, while retaining a direct link with its maritime environment.
They are an Amerindian people from French Guiana, belonging to the Tupi-Guarani cultural and linguistic family. Mainly settled along the Oyapock River, they perpetuate a culture based on oral transmission, the Teko language and a close relationship with the Amazon rainforest.
They live mainly in the east and south of French Guiana, notably in the commune of Camopi and in several villages along the Oyapock River. Some groups are also present on the other side of the border, in Brazil.
They represent one of the oldest human presences in the region. Their history reminds us that the Caribbean and the Guyana Plateau were already inhabited long before European colonization. Their language, knowledge and relationship with the land help us to understand the Amerindian roots of Caribbean identity.
Off the coast of Kourou, some fifteen kilometers off the coast, the Îles du Salut occupy a singular place in the imagination and history of French Guiana. This archipelago of three islets – Île Royale, Île Saint-Joseph and Île du Diable – combines a rich historical heritage, linked to the colonial prison system, with a remarkably well-preserved natural environment. The Îles du Salut are more than just a backdrop: they tell the story, in the open air, of a complex page in French and Caribbean-Amazon history.
An archipelago shaped by prison history
From the middle of the XIXᵉ century, the Îles du Salut became one of the mainstays of Guyana’s penal colony. Their isolation, powerful ocean currents and constant swell made them a place deemed ideal for detention. Île Royale housed the prison administration and some of the inmates, while Île Saint-Joseph was reserved for disciplinary cells, known for their extreme conditions of confinement. Île du Diable, the smallest and most inaccessible, is reserved for political prisoners.
This prison system, officially abolished in 1938 but effectively closed after the Second World War, has left a deep mark on our collective memory. The remains – cells, hospitals, administrative buildings – can still be seen today, and constitute a rare heritage site in the Caribbean.
Île Royale: nerve center and gateway
Today, Île Royale is the main access point for visitors. Formerly the logistical heart of the penal colony, it houses most of the infrastructure: landing stage, restored buildings, signposted paths. The former prison buildings stand alongside dense, controlled vegetation, offering a striking contrast between stone, metal and forest.
A surprisingly familiar fauna can be observed here, including agoutis and saimiri monkeys, which have adapted to the human presence. This cohabitation is a reminder that, since the closure of the penal colony, nature has gradually reclaimed its rights, without erasing the traces of the past.
Île Saint-Joseph: isolation and silence
The wilder, more austere Île Saint-Joseph embodies the darker side of the prison system. The disciplinary cells, often plunged into darkness, bear witness to the punitive use of prolonged isolation. Visiting the island imposes a slow, almost introspective pace, reinforced by the absence of heavy tourist facilities.
The paths, lined with dense vegetation, lead to open vistas of the Atlantic Ocean. The contrast between the beauty of the landscape and the harshness of history gives Île Saint-Joseph a special atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression on visitors.
Devil's Island: symbols and prohibitions
Île du Diable remains inaccessible to the public, mainly for safety reasons linked to currents and the state of the structures.
However, it remains a powerful symbol, associated in particular with the Dreyfus Affair, which profoundly shook the French Republic at the end of the XIXᵉ century.
Visible from Île Royale, Île du Diable acts as a permanent reminder of a political and judicial history whose repercussions have extended far beyond French Guiana’s borders.
A fragile but remarkable natural heritage
In addition to their historical heritage, the Îles du Salut are of particular ecological interest. The absence of modern urbanization has enabled the preservation of specific island ecosystems. The seabed, though subject to powerful currents, is home to a biodiversity adapted to equatorial Atlantic waters.
Current site management aims to strike a delicate balance between welcoming the public and protecting the environment. Travel is restricted, sensitive areas are limited, and restoration work focuses on conservation rather than complete reconstruction.
The Îles du Salut in contemporary French Guiana
Today, the Îles du Salut occupy a strategic position in French Guiana’s cultural and tourist offering. Their proximity to Kourou and the Guiana Space Center brings together historical heritage and technological modernity, two facets that are often seen as opposites, but which in this case complement each other.
For French Guiana, this archipelago represents a lever for the transmission of memories. It offers a straightforward way of tackling sensitive issues – colonization, imprisonment, justice – while at the same time enhancing the value of a preserved natural area. This dual approach – historical and environmental – sets the site apart in the wider Caribbean.
Why are the Salvation Islands so important to understand?
The Îles du Salut are more than just a former penal colony, more than just a place to visit. They are a territory of memory, where human history is permanently inscribed in the landscape. Preserving them, telling their story and integrating them into a broader reflection on colonial heritage are major challenges for French Guiana today.
In a Caribbean space often associated with images of seaside leisure, the Îles du Salut are a reminder that the region is also criss-crossed by complex histories, sometimes painful, but essential to understanding its full identity.
The Îles du Salut are located off the coast of French Guiana, about 15 kilometers from Kourou, in the Atlantic Ocean. The archipelago comprises three main islands: Île Royale, Île Saint-Joseph and Île du Diable.
Only Île Royale and Île Saint-Joseph are accessible to the public. Île du Diable remains off-limits due to the danger of sea currents and the state of its infrastructure. However, it is still visible from Île Royale.
The Îles du Salut were one of the main centers of Guyana’s penal colony between the XIXᵉ and XXᵉ centuries. Today, they are home to penitentiary remains that are unique in the Caribbean, bearing witness to French colonial history, the prison system and its human consequences.
