U.S. Virgin Islands Tourism Reaches New Heights with Record-Breaking Passenger Numbers Spotlighting St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John as Top Destinations

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The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism celebrates record-breaking passenger arrivals, underscoring the rising popularity of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John as premier tourism destinations.

December 28 closed the year on a remarkable note, with 4,606 passenger arrivals in a single day, exceeding the previous record set in March 2024. This milestone also contributed to a new weekly arrival record, with more than 24,000 visitors, reflecting a 5.92% growth compared to the previous benchmark.

“As a destination, we continue to explore, elevate, and improve, which further supports the ongoing goal to build upon our commitment to be a premier Caribbean destination,” shares Commissioner Joseph Boschulte of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.

The U.S. Virgin Islands celebrated a banner year for tourism in 2024, with visitor numbers reaching unprecedented levels. Airline arrivals at Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix totaled 932,265 passengers, surpassing the previous record by more than 100,000. This impressive milestone marked a 16.5% increase compared to 2023 and highlighted the islands’ resurgence as a sought-after travel destination.

Milestones in Air Travel

March 2024 set the tone for a year of achievements, recording 106,026 airline arrivals—the highest monthly total in history. The addition and return of major airline routes, including services from American Airlines, Cape Air, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country, and United Airlines, contributed significantly to this success.

Cruise Tourism Growth

Cruise tourism also experienced a surge, with 1,770,922 passengers visiting the islands, reflecting a 9.8% increase from 2023. This growth was driven by the arrival of new and iconic ships, such as Scarlet Lady, Icon of the Seas, Disney Treasure, Explora I, Sun Princess, Explora II, Emerald Azzurra, Celebrity Apex, and Rhapsody of the Seas. These visits underscore the Territory’s commitment to fostering partnerships across the cruise industry.

Prestigious Recognitions

The U.S. Virgin Islands’ outstanding tourism performance was further validated by a series of prestigious awards in 2024:

• Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine: Best Caribbean Cruise Destination
• Caribbean Journal Caribbean Travel Awards:
  • Caribbean Culinary Destination (St. Croix)
  • Caribbean Yachting Destination of the Year
  • Event Destination of the Year
• USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards:
  • Top 10 Best Beach: Honeymoon Beach, St. John
• The World’s 50 Best Beaches:
  • Number 1 Best Beach in the World: Trunk Bay, St. John
• Expedia 2024 Summer Outlook:
  • Number 1 Domestic Trending Summer Destination: St. Thomas
• HSMAI Adrian Awards:
  • Experiential Marketing Bronze Award for the Caribbean Way of Sports & Lifestyle Tourism campaign

A Premier Destination for Visitors

These accolades, coupled with record-breaking arrivals, showcase the U.S. Virgin Islands as a premier destination for travelers worldwide. With its unparalleled beaches, vibrant culture, and innovative tourism strategies, the Territory is positioned for continued success in 2025 and beyond.

“As we look to 2025, we will continue to push the creativity of our marketing strategies, which includes advertising, social media, public relations, and partnerships to connect with and keep the U.S. Virgin Islands top of mind for new and returning travelers,” adds Commissioner Boschulte.

Commissioner Boschulte and the Department of Tourism team are focused on a dynamic future, striving to establish the U.S. Virgin Islands as the ultimate destination for travelers seeking breathtaking natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and genuine hospitality.