Business View Caribbean | April 2019

12 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN APRIL 2019 percent) shows the most favorable outlook. Air capacity grew by 20 percent in January year- over-year, with a robust seat growth from the best-connected international markets – the USA (+23.9 percent) and Canada (+12.7 percent). The USA and Canada will continue to lead the capacity growth in the next three months. The growth trend continues, as international air capacity grew by nearly 21 percent year-over-year in February. Last year was a record-breaking year for the cruise ship industry and stopover arrivals. By the end of 2018, foreign air and sea arrivals had totaled more than 6.6 million visitors, a drastic increase from the 6.1 million recorded in 2017. Stopover visitors alone had increased 16.7 percent in 2018, as compared to 2017, and Freeport saw a surge of sea visitors by 49 percent. The Nassau and Paradise Island hotel industry reported a spike in average daily room rates and revenue per available room in 2018 compared to 2017. The year ended with room revenues up 34 percent, gains not seen in the past 10 years. The Bahamas is experiencing its strongest tourism numbers ever on record