THOMAS — The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) welcomed record-breaking visitor numbers in 2024, reaffirming its status as a leading tourism destination in the Caribbean.

Passenger arrivals peaked on Dec. 28, setting a new single-day record of 4,606 visitors, surpassing the previous record set in March 2024. This milestone also contributed to a weekly passenger arrival record of over 24,000, a 5.92% increase from the prior high.

“As a destination, we continue to explore, elevate and improve, which supports our goal of remaining a premier Caribbean destination,” said Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.

Air travel into the USVI soared in 2024, with Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix recording a combined total of 932,265 passenger arrivals. This figure not only surpassed the previous peak reached during the COVID-19 pandemic but also marked a 16.5% year-over-year increase.

March 2024 saw the highest monthly arrival total with 106,026 visitors. Throughout the year, the Territory benefited from the expansion of airline services, including new or returning routes from American Airlines, Cape Air, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country, and United Airlines.

Cruise tourism also surged, with 1,770,922 cruise passengers visiting the islands, representing a 9.8% increase over 2023. The boost was attributed to maiden voyages from several major cruise lines, including Scarlet Lady, Icon of the Seas, Disney Treasure, Explora I and II, Sun Princess, Emerald Azzurra, Celebrity Apex, and Rhapsody of the Seas.

Commissioner Boschulte highlighted the department’s forward-looking strategies for 2025, which include enhanced advertising, social media engagement, public relations and industry partnerships to sustain the Territory’s appeal to both new and returning travellers.

“We will continue to push creative marketing initiatives to keep the U.S. Virgin Islands top of mind for global audiences,” Boschulte added.

For more information, visit www.visitusvi.com.