While the numbers come as no surprise, given the coronavirus pandemic ravaged the globe and region, the CTO said the figure was still better than any other region in the world.

“Across the Caribbean, the impact of COVID-19 on the travel and tourism industry has been very apparent. The impact was particularly evident during the period of April to about mid -June when there was literally no activity in some of our destinations,” CTO said in a March 15, 2021, release.

While the numbers come as no surprise given the coronavirus pandemic ravaged the globe and region, the CTO said the figure was still better than any other region in the world.

COVID-19 has huge impact on industry - CTO

They said the period was characterised by empty hotels and restaurants, deserted attractions, shut borders, laid-off workers, grounded airlines and crippled cruise lines.

“While we saw some fluctuations in the levels of visitors for the remaining months of 2020, the influx of visitors has not reached levels even closely comparable to those being experienced prior to March 2020. In fact, some destinations remain closed to visitors, with limited airlift primarily for repatriation of locals and cargo.”

So far, the data reveals that tourist arrivals to the region in 2020 fell to just over 11 million, a declined of 65.5 per cent when compared to the record 32.0 million tourist visits in 2019.

The world average was 73.9 per cent decline during the same period in 2019.

The Virgin Islands began receiving international tourists on December 1, 2020, following some 8 months of border closure.

2021 performance depends on containment of virus

For 2021, the organisation is forecasting that the Caribbean’s tourism performance will depend largely on the success of the authorities in the marketplace and the region in combatting, containing and controlling the virus.

Authorities in the VI has said building ‘herd immunity' through COVID-19 vaccination of its people will pave the way for more tourist arrivals and a full re-opening of the territory’s ports.

The CTO says it is forecasting a 20% rise in tourists’ arrivals in 2021, with a similar increase in visitor expenditure, when compared to 2020.