It is easier for Caribbean travelers to leave the region than to explore it

The Caribbean has spent decades promoting itself as one of the world's most desirable tourism destinations, attracting millions of visitors to its beaches, resorts, cultural attractions and festivals. Yet a growing number of Caribbean residents appear to be looking beyond their own region when deciding where to spend their vacations and travel budgets. For many, a trip to Miami, New York, London or another international destination has become more attractive than visiting a neighboring Caribbean island, even when the regional destination is geographically much closer.

This changing pattern is the subject of an important study by Caribbean researchers Dr. Dalano DaSouza and Dr. Dennis McCall Jr., whose work recently earned them the inaugural Caribbean Tourism Intelligence Award from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). The award was presented on October 7, 2026, during the State of the Tourism Industry Conference in Guyana, recognizing research that can help Caribbean governments and tourism stakeholders make better-informed decisions about the future of the industry.

DaSouza, originally from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, serves as Director of Research, Statistics and Data Analytics at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, while McCall, from St. Kitts and Nevis, is a senior lecturer at Teesside University in the United Kingdom. Their research, titled Decline of the Regional Traveller? Investigating New Factors Driving Substitution of Intra-Caribbean Tourism with International Travel, was published in the academic journal Tourism Critiques: Practice and Theory. It examines why Caribbean people are increasingly choosing international travel over regional destinations and what governments might do to reverse the trend.

A Region Losing Its Own Travelers

The researchers identified a troubling development in Caribbean aviation. Between 2007 and 2017, passenger traffic between the Caribbean and destinations outside the region increased by approximately 76 percent, rising from 12.8 million to 22.6 million passengers. During the same period, travel within the Caribbean declined by approximately two percent. The trend persisted after the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the broader recovery of Caribbean tourism.

The study notes that the eight-member Eastern Caribbean Currency Union welcomed 266,418 Caribbean visitors in 2019, compared with 204,232 in 2024. This represents a significant loss of regional travel at a time when Caribbean destinations continue investing heavily in attracting international visitors. The consequences extend beyond airlines because regional travelers contribute to hotels, restaurants, transportation services, entertainment establishments and other businesses, particularly during periods when international tourism demand is weaker.

To investigate the reasons behind this shift, the researchers surveyed 1,103 Caribbean nationals across 23 countries and territories, including St. Maarten. The survey examined travel preferences, ticket prices, flight schedules, visa access, family connections, shopping habits and demographic characteristics. Although the online sample contained a high proportion of university-educated respondents and cannot establish that every Caribbean traveler behaves similarly, it provides valuable evidence about the factors influencing regional travel decisions.

The High Cost of Traveling Next Door

Airfare emerged as the strongest factor influencing destination choices. Approximately 98 percent of respondents considered ticket prices either their most important consideration or a top priority when deciding where to travel. Meanwhile, 76 percent strongly agreed that taxes, fees and charges make intra-Caribbean travel significantly less attractive than international travel, and 78 percent believed governments should reduce these costs to encourage greater regional movement.

The findings illustrate a frustration familiar to many Caribbean residents: traveling between neighboring islands can cost as much as, or sometimes more than, flying considerably greater distances to major international destinations. The researchers explain that airport charges, government taxes, limited competition and fragmented aviation networks contribute to this problem. Such costs can make short regional journeys economically unattractive, particularly when international carriers offer competitive fares and broader route options.

However, the research reveals something more complicated than expensive tickets. When respondents were asked whether they would choose a Caribbean or international destination if airfares were similar, approximately 79 percent indicated a preference for international travel. This suggests that lowering ticket prices, while essential, may not be sufficient by itself to restore regional tourism demand. Caribbean destinations are competing not only on affordability but also on convenience, accessibility and the experiences travelers believe they will receive.

International Travel Has Become Easier

Flight connectivity is another major factor working against Caribbean destinations. Approximately 69 percent of respondents agreed that existing flight schedules make traveling outside the Caribbean more convenient than traveling within it. International routes often provide greater scheduling flexibility, while regional travel can involve limited frequencies, connections and longer-than-expected travel times between relatively close destinations.

Visa access is also influencing travel behavior. Among respondents who obtained visas, waivers or travel clearances for international destinations, approximately 69 percent reported reducing their intra-Caribbean travel while increasing trips outside the region. As Caribbean nationals gain easier access to major international markets, destinations that previously seemed difficult to visit become increasingly realistic alternatives for vacations, shopping and family visits.

For regional policymakers, these findings raise questions about the effectiveness of Caribbean integration when residents still encounter substantial barriers to moving between neighboring territories. The researchers recommend greater cooperation on travel documentation, streamlined immigration procedures and more convenient regional transportation networks. Their argument is that Caribbean destinations must become easier to visit if they expect residents to choose them over increasingly accessible international alternatives.

The Powerful Pull of Family Abroad

One of the study's most revealing findings concerns migration and family connections. Approximately 83 percent of respondents reported having relatives or friends living outside the Caribbean whom they visit, while 45 percent indicated that, when costs are equal, they would prefer visiting family or friends overseas rather than exploring a new Caribbean destination.

This reflects the enormous influence of Caribbean diaspora communities in North America, Europe and elsewhere. Migration creates lasting personal connections that shape travel decisions for generations, particularly when relatives provide accommodation, transportation or other support that reduces the cost of international trips. For Caribbean residents, overseas travel may therefore combine a vacation with family reunions, shopping and other activities, making the overall experience more attractive.

The researchers do not suggest that governments should discourage international travel or attempt to weaken diaspora relationships. Instead, they propose using these connections to encourage additional regional travel, including discounted stopover packages, combined itineraries and short Caribbean vacations linked to international journeys. Such approaches could allow Caribbean destinations to benefit from existing travel patterns rather than competing unsuccessfully against them.

Shopping Is Sending Travelers Overseas

Perhaps one of the study's most unexpected findings concerns the effect of import duties, taxes and fees on shopping-related travel. Approximately 86 percent of respondents reported traveling outside the Caribbean to shop because of high domestic import charges. The researchers argue that these costs can make purchasing certain goods overseas financially attractive, creating an additional incentive to choose international destinations.

For residents of small island economies, shopping abroad can offer access to greater product variety, competitive retail prices and items that may be expensive or difficult to obtain locally. A traveler who combines shopping with accommodation provided by relatives may find that an international trip delivers greater overall value than a conventional regional vacation. Consequently, domestic taxation and retail policies can influence tourism decisions in ways that extend well beyond the aviation industry.

The researchers recommend carefully targeted adjustments to import duties on goods that strongly encourage overseas shopping, alongside measures to improve regional e-commerce and retail opportunities. They caution against indiscriminate tax reductions, recognizing that governments depend on customs revenue to finance public services.

The Caribbean Is Not the Problem

Interestingly, the study challenges the assumption that Caribbean travelers avoid regional destinations because neighboring islands offer similar cultures, attractions or experiences. Approximately 78 percent of respondents disagreed that similarities in people, food and culture make intra-Caribbean travel less attractive.

Instead, international destinations often benefit from the appeal of different experiences, shopping opportunities and unfamiliar environments. The researchers suggest that Caribbean tourism authorities should do more to emphasize the individual identities of regional destinations, including their historical attractions, food, music, festivals and natural environments.

For St. Maarten, this provides an opportunity to examine how the island positions itself to Caribbean travelers. Its culinary variety, shopping, nightlife, beaches and multicultural character could form part of stronger regional tourism offerings, particularly when combined with more accessible air connections and shorter vacation packages.

The Decisions That Must Follow

The study recommends coordinated action on regional aviation taxes, improved flight schedules, simplified movement between territories and tourism products designed specifically for Caribbean residents. It also encourages partnerships between governments, airlines and tourism authorities to develop affordable weekend breaks, festival packages and multi-destination experiences that make regional travel more appealing.

The importance of the research extends beyond tourism statistics. When Caribbean residents spend their travel budgets within the region, more opportunities can be created for regional businesses, employment and economic cooperation. Conversely, when traveling outside the Caribbean becomes consistently easier and more attractive, the region risks losing part of a market that should be among its most accessible.

The CTO's recognition of DaSouza and McCall underscores the value of Caribbean researchers examining Caribbean problems through regional evidence. Their findings do not suggest that residents have lost interest in their neighbors or that Caribbean destinations lack appeal. Rather, they reveal how costs, government policies, transportation systems and changing personal connections are shaping decisions.

Ultimately, the future of intra-Caribbean tourism may depend less on convincing Caribbean people that their region is worth visiting and more on removing the obstacles that make traveling elsewhere the easier choice.

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