Cayman Islands Celebrates Record Stay-Over Arrivals

The Cayman Islands has achieved its best April on record for stayover tourism, continuing a trend of strong visitor growth that has defined the destination’s performance throughout 2026.

According to the latest tourism figures, the destination welcomed 47,884 stayover visitors in April, setting a new benchmark for the month. The total surpassed the previous April record established in 2019 by nearly four percent and represented a 12 percent increase compared to April 2025.

When cruise passengers are included, total visitor arrivals reached 173,596 for the month, reflecting a significant 37 percent increase year-over-year.

The latest figures build on an already impressive start to the year for the Cayman Islands tourism sector. March 2026 delivered the highest monthly stayover arrivals ever recorded, helping position the destination for one of its strongest years to date.

Tourism Growth Continues to Drive Economic Activity

Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Trade Development, Hon. Gary Rutty, said the continued growth of the tourism sector is creating opportunities across the Caymanian economy.

“Tourism remains a major contributor to our economy, supporting businesses, generating employment and creating opportunities for Caymanians,” Rutty said.

He noted that following a strong winter season and a record-breaking April, the destination is entering the summer period with positive momentum supported by increased air connectivity and sustained demand from key markets.

Industry leaders believe the growth in visitor arrivals is translating into increased spending across accommodations, attractions, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses.

United States Remains Leading Source Market

The United States continued to dominate as the Cayman Islands’ largest visitor source market.

April arrivals from the U.S. reached 38,968 stayover visitors, marking the strongest April performance ever recorded from the market. The figure represented a 9.8 percent increase over April 2025 and exceeded the previous April record established in 2019.

Tourism officials highlighted strong growth from the Western and Midwestern regions of the United States, particularly from cities such as Denver and Chicago.

Canada Emerges as a Key Growth Market

Canada continues to play an increasingly important role in the Cayman Islands’ tourism growth strategy.

The destination welcomed 4,277 Canadian stayover visitors during April, representing a remarkable 69 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The result also marked the sixth consecutive month of double-digit growth from the Canadian market.

Expanded air service has been a major driver behind the increase. The Cayman Islands is expected to maintain five weekly nonstop flights from Toronto during the summer before increasing service levels later in the year.

Additional growth is anticipated in December with the return of Porter Airlines, which is expected to significantly increase connectivity from Toronto and Ottawa. Tourism officials project that Canada-Cayman air service could reach its highest level ever by the end of 2026.

International Markets Show Positive Growth

Beyond North America, the Cayman Islands also recorded encouraging results from several international markets.

Visitor arrivals from Continental Europe increased by 23.3 percent, supported by strong performances from Germany, France and the Netherlands.

Latin America also posted gains, with arrivals rising by 4.3 percent compared to April 2025.

Overall airlift capacity from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom increased by 15.1 percent year-over-year, supported by additional flights from major gateways including Chicago, Toronto and Ottawa.

Hotel Sector Benefits from Increased Demand

The growth in visitor arrivals has also translated into stronger performance across the accommodations sector.

Data from hospitality analytics firm STR showed hotel occupancy reaching 77.8 percent in April 2026, an increase of 9.4 percentage points compared to the same month last year.

Hotels also experienced stronger pricing power, with average daily room rates increasing by 6.1 percent year-over-year. Revenue per available room, a key industry performance metric, climbed 20.8 percent during the month.

Looking at the first four months of 2026, occupancy levels were up 6.7 percent compared to the same period in 2025, while revenue per available room increased by 16.6 percent, reflecting sustained demand across the destination.

Looking Ahead

With record-breaking visitor arrivals, expanding airlift and strong hotel performance, the Cayman Islands is well-positioned to maintain its tourism momentum throughout the remainder of 2026.

Tourism leaders credit collaboration among airlines, travel advisors, hospitality partners and local stakeholders for helping the destination achieve one of the strongest tourism performances in its history.