Kristina M. D'Amico
Sun, Sand, Sea, and Luxury: The Rebound of Barbados Following COVID-19
Kristina M. D'Amico | May 16, 2024
By Kristina M. D'Amico Barbados is an independent English-speaking Commonwealth country and the easternmost island of the Caribbean. It is one of the most mature tourist destinations in the Caribbean. The island is known for offering some of the most serene beaches in the world, as well as an abundance of dining options, local shopping experiences, outstanding golf courses, and numerous other attractions. According to Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), approximately 80% of visitors to the island come for vacation or tourism purposes. The following graph shows the historical stopover visitation data for Barbados. Number of Stopove...
The U.S. Virgin Islands: An Anticipated Record-Breaking Year
Kristina M. D'Amico | March 16, 2023
By Kristina M. D'Amico After the devasting impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the U.S. Virgin Islands, which comprise the islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, faced a significant rebuilding effort to reopen their hotel inventory. As the renovations and reopenings from the 2017 hurricane season were nearing completion, COVID-19 began to affect the islands. However, the U.S. Virgin Islands have a significant competitive advantage over the other islands in the Caribbean because they benefit from U.S. territory status. As a result, the U.S. Virgin Islands avoided the complicated COVID-19 travel restrictions that exist...
The Development Boom in the Dominican Republic
CHICOS 2022 | April 5, 2022
By Kristina M. D'Amico Historical Demand to the Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is one of the fastest growing economies in the Caribbean and the most popular tourist destination in the Caribbean region. Its tropical climate, white-sand beaches, diverse mountainous landscape, and colonial history attracts visitors from around the world. The country has 28 provinces spread across six main regions, with the East & Southeast region, which encompasses the cities of Punta Cana and Bávaro, serving as the most popular tourist destination and offering nearly 50% of all hotel rooms in the country. Over the last 20 ye...
2019 in the Caribbean Region: ‘Cause Every Little Thing Gonna Be Alright
Kristina M. D'Amico | September 26, 2019
By Kristina M. D'Amico Strong Year-to-Date Performance, Bolstered by ADR Increases The Caribbean islands have long been established as a popular travel destination for U.S., Canadian, and European travelers. Tourism to the islands is highly dependent upon the availability of transportation. Cruise ships and airlines are responsible for the vast majority of visitor arrivals to the islands, with air service the method of transportation for almost all of the tourists requiring overnight accommodations. Consequently, the availability and caliber of air service to the local airports has had a material influence on the level of tourism to ...
