USVI Sees $258 Million Boost from Cruise Tourism as Passenger Spending Hits New High

A new study published by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) found that cruise tourism contributed over $258 million to the economy of the Virgin Islands over the 2023/2024 season, $73 million more than in 2017/2018. The boost in economic contribution from cruises was true across destinations in the Caribbean, with the USVI recording the third-largest economic benefit from cruise tourism, behind Cozumel and the Bahamas. The number of Virgin Islanders directly employed in the cruise tourism industry also rose, standing at just over 5,000 in 2024, compared with under 3,450 in 2018. Despite the rosy figures, the study conducted by Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) noted a concerning trend. Onshore visits by both passengers and crew were down, the latter significantly – from 39% in 2018 to 30% in this year's study. Passenger disembarkation rates fell to 83% this year, from 85% in 2018. Despite the reduced visitation rates, total direct expenditures per passenger ...