Travelers Are Flocking to the Cayman Islands, With Record Arrivals, More Flights, and a Surging Canadian Market

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Seven Mile Beach stretching along Grand Cayman. The quiet roads and open beaches of Cayman Brac. The clear water and unhurried pace of Little Cayman. Across all three islands, the Cayman Islands’ tourism year is gaining strength.

The Cayman Islands welcomed 40,460 stayover visitors in June, extending its run of year-over-year growth to eight consecutive months and completing the destination’s strongest first half on record.

June stayover arrivals increased 6.9 percent compared with the same month last year, led by the United States and supported by sharp gains from Canada and Continental Europe.

Between January and June, the destination received 288,694 stayover visitors, an increase of 11.3 percent from the first half of 2025.

The gains are showing up beyond the arrival figures, too. Hotel occupancy, rates, room revenue and air capacity all climbed as the Cayman Islands added new accommodations and expanded its connections with several of its most important visitor markets.

A Record First Half for Stayover Tourism

The first-half results mark a significant tourism milestone for a destination with a relatively small number of hotel rooms and a visitor economy built around longer stays, high-end resorts, villas, condominiums, diving and culinary travel.

Stayover tourism carries particular economic weight in the Cayman Islands because visitors spend across a wide range of local businesses, from restaurants and dive operators to taxi companies, shops and independent tour providers.

“Tourism is one of the strongest engines of our national economy, and a record first half of the year means that engine is delivering for Caymanians,” said Gary Rutty, the Cayman Islands’ deputy premier and minister for tourism and trade development.

Rutty pointed to the effect of the gains on hospitality wages, restaurants, transportation providers, water sports companies and local suppliers.

“Eight consecutive months of stayover growth, alongside sustained cruise arrivals, gives our people and our businesses something they can plan around,” he said.

Canada Is Now One of Cayman’s Primary Markets

The biggest percentage gains are coming from Canada, which recorded its strongest June in the destination’s history.

The Cayman Islands welcomed 1,679 Canadian visitors in June, a year-over-year increase of 44.1 percent. Arrivals from Canada reached a record 26,674 visitors during the first six months of the year, up 48.9 percent from the same period in 2025.

Canada now represents 9.2 percent of Cayman’s year-to-date stayover arrivals, compared with 6.9 percent last year.

The increase has elevated Canada from what tourism officials considered a secondary source market into one of the destination’s primary markets.

The numbers also reflect stronger air connections from Canada, including added capacity from Toronto and new service from Ottawa. More seats have made it easier for Canadian travelers to reach Grand Cayman during both the winter season and the traditionally quieter months of the year.

The United States Remains the Largest Source of Visitors

While Canada produced the fastest percentage growth, the United States delivered the largest number of additional visitors in June.

The US market added 2,259 visitors, an increase of 6.8 percent compared with June of last year.

The Southern United States recorded some of the strongest gains, with arrivals rising 4.1 percent. Tourism officials cited increased visitation from Austin and the Miami-Fort Lauderdale region as leading contributors.

The United States remains fundamental to Cayman tourism, supported by frequent flights from major hubs including Miami, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Charlotte, along with service from cities such as New York, Houston and Tampa.

The growth from Austin has become particularly notable following the launch of Cayman Airways’ new Austin-Grand Cayman route in June.

The nonstop service gives Central Texas travelers a direct path to Grand Cayman and adds another US gateway beyond the destination’s traditional East Coast and Southeastern markets.

Europe Is Growing, Too

The Cayman Islands also recorded strong results from Europe, with the largest June increase coming from Continental Europe.

Arrivals from Continental Europe rose 73.9 percent, led by travelers from France, Germany and Spain. During the first half of the year, the market increased 22.9 percent compared with the same period in 2025.

Visitation from the United Kingdom and Ireland rose 4.1 percent in June and 8 percent for the first six months of the year.

The continued performance of the UK and Irish markets is supported in part by British Airways’ London-Grand Cayman service via Nassau, one of the destination’s most important long-haul air links.

The European gains also follow expanded work with tour operators, travel advisors and other travel trade partners across the region.

More Flights Are Bringing More Visitors

Inbound air capacity from the United States, Canada and British Airways’ London service increased by 9 percent year over year in June.

During the first six months of 2026, additional North American capacity came from Miami, Toronto, Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta, along with new flights from Ottawa, Fort Lauderdale and Austin.

The expanded flight network is giving travelers more ways to reach the Cayman Islands and helping hotels fill rooms across a broader portion of the calendar.

Direct service is especially important for Grand Cayman, where the visitor experience extends from the resorts and restaurants of Seven Mile Beach to neighborhoods including Camana Bay, George Town, West Bay and East End.

Grand Cayman also serves as the main gateway for onward travel to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, where diving, small hotels and a quieter island experience remain central to the appeal.

Hotels Are Seeing Higher Occupancy and Revenue

The rise in visitors produced a strong June for the Cayman Islands’ hotel sector.

Hotel occupancy reached 61 percent, an increase of 5.3 percentage points compared with June 2025, according to STR.

The destination’s average daily hotel rate increased 6.7 percent, while revenue per available room rose 16.8 percent year over year.

The gains came even as the destination added new accommodations, including the opening of ONE GT in George Townin May. The property brought additional rooms into the market without slowing the increase in occupancy or hotel revenue.

Through the end of June, hotel occupancy reached 73.3 percent, up 6.4 percentage points from the first half of last year. Average daily rates increased 6.2 percent, while revenue per available room climbed 16.3 percent.

Total hotel revenue rose 17.3 percent during the first six months of 2026.

The results suggest the Cayman Islands are attracting enough additional visitors to absorb new hotel inventory while still generating higher rates and stronger returns across the accommodations sector.

Cruise Tourism Is Also Increasing

The Cayman Islands’ cruise sector recorded another year-over-year gain in June, welcoming 55,639 cruise passengers, an increase of 15.5 percent.

Combined with stayover arrivals, total visitation for the month reached 96,099 people, up 11.7 percent from June 2025.

During the first half of the year, the destination welcomed 681,391 cruise passengers, an increase of 6.8 percent.

Cruise visitors generally arrive in George Town before traveling to attractions across Grand Cayman, including Seven Mile Beach, Stingray City, Cayman Turtle Centre and the restaurants and shops of Camana Bay.

The cruise growth adds another layer to a first half in which both major segments of the tourism industry recorded gains.

Latin America Posts a Strong First Half

Arrivals from Latin America declined 4.8 percent in June, but the market remained ahead for the year.

During the first six months of 2026, Latin American visitation increased 10.8 percent compared with the same period last year.

The Cayman Islands has been working to raise its profile across Latin America as a Caribbean destination for beach vacations, diving, shopping, dining and family travel.

The market also has potential because of Grand Cayman’s flight links through Miami and Panama, both of which connect travelers from a wide range of Latin American cities.

A Broader Tourism Base

The latest figures show a Cayman Islands tourism industry drawing visitors from a more varied group of markets.

The United States remains the destination’s largest source of travelers. Canada is becoming a far more important contributor. Europe is producing some of the fastest gains, while Latin America ended the first half ahead of last year.

“Eight consecutive months of stayover growth reflects the disciplined execution of a clear strategy — diversifying our source markets, securing and sustaining airlift, deepening our travel trade relationships, and keeping the Cayman Islands visible in the markets that matter most,” said Rosa Harris, the Cayman Islands’ director of tourism.

Harris said the department will continue working on air service and travel trade partnerships in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Continental Europe.

The next test will be whether the destination can carry the momentum through the remainder of the summer and into the fall.

With more nonstop flights, a larger hotel portfolio and rising demand from several international markets, the Cayman Islands are entering the second half of the year from their strongest tourism position yet.

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