The Virgin Islands welcomed more than one million visitors in 2024, marking only the second time the territory has achieved this milestone since its first million-visitor year in 2016, Premier Natalio Wheatley announced.
Tourist arrivals reached 1,092,139 in 2024, representing a 9.8% increase from 994,896 visitors in 2023, according to the Central Statistics Office. The figures represent the highest tourism numbers since Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the region.
“This is a monumental achievement for the Virgin Islands,” said Wheatley, who also serves as tourism minister. “It is a testament to our enduring appeal, the resilience of our tourism sector, and the hard work of everyone who contributes to making these islands a world-class destination.”
Cruise ship visitors led the growth with 768,293 passengers, up 6.8% from 2023. Overnight visitors increased 16.7% to 305,876, while day trippers saw the largest percentage gain, jumping 35.1% to 17,970.
The territory experienced particularly strong growth in the first half of 2024, with total arrivals up 17.2% compared to the same period in 2023. First-quarter results showed a 30.3% increase in overall arrivals, driven by significant gains across all visitor categories.
The government plans to build on this momentum at this week’s inaugural Tourism Summit, where stakeholders will discuss strategies for sustainable tourism growth and infrastructure development. Wheatley emphasized the territory’s commitment to balancing tourism growth with environmental preservation, stating that efforts to protect the islands’ natural beauty and cultural heritage remain paramount as the destination continues its tourism expansion.