Bahamas Unites With Jamaica and More as Florida Remains the Top Destination for Caribbean Tourists in the US Despite a Strong Decline in Arrivals in 2026

Bahamas united with Jamaica and other Caribbean markets as Florida continued to hold its position as the leading US destination for Caribbean tourists in 2026, despite a decline in arrivals during the year-to-date period. Florida welcomed 295,856 Caribbean visitors, accounting for 48.4% of the arrivals covered in the dataset, although the figure represented a 1.6% drop compared with the previous comparison period. While the Bahamas remained Florida’s largest Caribbean source market with 85,013 visitors and only a slight decline, Jamaica and other markets experienced sharper reductions, highlighting changing travel patterns across the region.

Florida remained the leading US destination for Caribbean tourists in the supplied year-to-date 2026 data, receiving 295,856 visitors, equivalent to 48.4% of the Caribbean arrivals covered by the dataset. However, the total was 1.6% lower than the 300,732 visitors recorded during the corresponding period of the comparison year, representing 4,876 fewer arrivals.

The decline was particularly pronounced in some individual Caribbean markets. Jamaica recorded a 17.5% fall in arrivals to Florida, while Barbados declined 3.7%, Saint Lucia 2.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 1.3%, and the Bahamas 0.5%.

Florida Receives Nearly 296,000 Caribbean Tourists

Florida received 295,856 Caribbean visitors during the selected year-to-date period in 2026, compared with 300,732 during the corresponding comparison period.

The difference represents a decline of 4,876 visitors, or 1.6%.

Florida accounted for 48.4% of the Caribbean arrivals covered by the supplied destination data, underscoring its position as the leading US destination in this dataset despite the year-on-year contraction.

Caribbean Tourist Arrivals in Florida

The overall decline was relatively modest compared with the much steeper reductions recorded by some individual Caribbean source markets.

Bahamas Remains a Major Caribbean Market for Florida

The Bahamas generated 85,013 visitors to Florida during the selected 2026 year-to-date period, compared with 85,474 during the corresponding comparison period.

That represents a decline of just 0.5%, equivalent to 461 fewer visitors.

Florida accounted for 77.4% of the Bahamas arrivals represented in the supplied data, the highest Florida share among the five Caribbean markets examined.

Despite the slight contraction, the Bahamas remained the largest of these five source markets by absolute visitor numbers.

Jamaica Records the Sharpest Decline

Jamaica showed a markedly different pattern.

Florida received 40,666 Jamaican visitors, compared with 49,319 during the comparison period. That represents 8,653 fewer visitors and a steep 17.5% decline.

The reduction was substantially larger than those recorded by the Bahamas, Barbados, Saint Lucia, or Trinidad and Tobago.

Florida accounted for 48.1% of Jamaican arrivals represented in the supplied data.

Caribbean Source Markets to Florida

All five Caribbean markets in the supplied country-level data recorded fewer arrivals to Florida than during their respective comparison periods.

Trinidad and Tobago Remains Above 34,000 Visitors

Trinidad and Tobago generated 34,567 arrivals to Florida, compared with 35,007 during the comparison period.

The decline was relatively limited at 1.3%, representing 440 fewer visitors.

Florida accounted for 53.7% of Trinidad and Tobago arrivals represented in the supplied data. This was the second-highest Florida share among the five markets, behind only the Bahamas.

The figures show that Florida continued to capture a substantial proportion of travellers from Trinidad and Tobago despite the slight reduction in overall arrivals.

Barbados Arrivals Decline 3.7%

Florida received 7,856 visitors from Barbados during the selected 2026 year-to-date period.

That was down from 8,158 in the comparison period, representing a reduction of 302 visitors.

The year-on-year decline stood at 3.7%, while Florida accounted for 43.8% of arrivals from Barbados represented in the supplied data.

The percentage contraction was considerably smaller than Jamaica’s 17.5% decline but greater than the reductions recorded for the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago.

Saint Lucia Records 2.4% Decline

Saint Lucia was the smallest of the five Caribbean source markets by absolute visitor volume.

Florida received 2,205 visitors from Saint Lucia, compared with 2,260 during the corresponding comparison period.

That represents 55 fewer arrivals, or a 2.4% decline.

Florida accounted for 41.3% of the Saint Lucia arrivals represented in the dataset.

Jamaica Accounts for Most of the Decline Across Five Markets

Looking at numerical changes provides a clearer picture of where the contraction was concentrated.

Jamaica recorded 8,653 fewer Florida arrivals, considerably more than the numerical reductions recorded by the other four markets.

The Bahamas declined by 461 visitors, Trinidad and Tobago by 440, Barbados by 302, and Saint Lucia by 55.

Numerical Declines in Caribbean Arrivals to Florida

The combined reduction across these five markets was 9,911 visitors. This figure should not be interpreted as Florida’s total Caribbean decline because the five markets represent only part of the broader Caribbean dataset.

Bahamas Holds the Strongest Florida Concentration

The destination-share figures reveal another important dimension of Caribbean travel to the United States.

Florida captured 77.4% of the Bahamas arrivals represented in the supplied data, considerably higher than its share for the other four markets.

Trinidad and Tobago followed at 53.7%, Jamaica at 48.1%, Barbados at 43.8%, and Saint Lucia at 41.3%.

Florida Share of Caribbean Source Markets

The figures indicate that Florida’s importance varies significantly depending on the Caribbean source market. Its position is particularly pronounced for travellers from the Bahamas.

Market Size and Decline Tell Different Stories

The supplied figures reveal that visitor volume and the severity of the downturn do not necessarily move together.

The Bahamas was the largest of the five markets, generating 85,013 Florida arrivals, yet recorded the smallest percentage decline at just 0.5%.

Jamaica ranked second among these markets by visitor volume but suffered by far the steepest contraction, falling 17.5%.

Trinidad and Tobago remained another substantial source market with 34,567 arrivals and recorded a comparatively modest 1.3% decline.

This divergence means Florida’s overall Caribbean tourism performance cannot be explained by a uniform decline across source markets. Individual countries are moving at significantly different rates.

Florida Maintains Its Lead Despite Softer Caribbean Arrivals

The broader figures show Florida continuing to hold a central position in Caribbean travel to the United States.

Its 295,856 Caribbean visitors represented 48.4% of the arrivals covered by the supplied state-level dataset, even after the overall total declined by 1.6%.

The country-level figures reinforce that position. Florida captured more than three-quarters of the Bahamas arrivals represented in the data and more than half of those from Trinidad and Tobago.

However, the sharp reduction from Jamaica demonstrates that the underlying Caribbean market remains uneven.

Latest Position

Florida received 295,856 Caribbean tourists during the selected 2026 year-to-date period, down 1.6% from 300,732 during the corresponding comparison period. The decline represents 4,876 fewer visitors.

Among the five individual Caribbean markets examined, the Bahamas remained the largest with 85,013 arrivals and a modest 0.5% decline. Jamaica experienced the sharpest contraction, with arrivals falling 17.5% to 40,666. Trinidad and Tobago declined 1.3%, Barbados 3.7%, and Saint Lucia 2.4%.

Despite the overall decline, Florida accounted for 48.4% of Caribbean arrivals in the supplied destination data, maintaining its position as the leading US destination within that dataset.

Bahamas unites with Jamaica and more as Florida remains the top destination for Caribbean tourists in the US in 2026, supported by nearly 296,000 arrivals, despite a decline driven by weaker visitor numbers from key Caribbean markets.

In conclusion, Bahamas unites with Jamaica and more Caribbean markets as Florida remains the top destination for Caribbean tourists in the US in 2026, supported by its leading share of arrivals despite a strong decline in overall visitor numbers. Florida welcomed 295,856 Caribbean visitors during the year-to-date period, maintaining its dominant position with 48.4% of the arrivals covered in the dataset. However, the decline in arrivals shows that Caribbean travel demand is shifting unevenly, with Jamaica experiencing the sharpest reduction while the Bahamas remained Florida’s largest source market. The figures highlight Florida’s continued importance as a gateway for Caribbean travellers while revealing changing patterns across regional markets.