Summary: In 2025 the Bahamas attracted an estimated 85% share of US tourists, contributing to roughly 12.5 million total visitors and cementing the islands' role as a leading luxury Caribbean destination.

New research and official figures show that in 2025 the Bahamas captured a dominant proportion of American travellers, with the US accounting for about 85% of the country’s international arrivals. That surge contributed to an estimated 12.5 million visitors to the archipelago, reinforcing the Bahamas’ position as a top luxury choice for US tourists.

Scale of the Bahamas’ 2025 Lead

Government figures and industry estimates indicate the Bahamas saw an outsized share of US arrivals in 2025. With the United States supplying the vast majority of visitors, cruise calls, direct flights and proximity to US cities are among the factors helping lift the islands above competitors across the Caribbean.

  • US market share for the Bahamas (2025): ~85%
  • Total visitors to the Bahamas (2025): ~12.5 million
  • Estimated US tourist arrivals to the Bahamas (2025): ~10.6 million
  • Cruise traffic and direct flights are major contributors to US arrivals

Country-by-country 2025 estimates

Alongside the Bahamas’ exceptional performance, other Caribbean destinations recorded sizeable US visitor numbers or notable growth in 2025. The following estimates and official counts outline the region’s stopover and stay‑over arrivals from the United States.

  • Bahamas: Estimated US arrivals ~10,600,000; total visitors ~12.5M
  • Dominican Republic: ~3,200,000 US arrivals (total visitors ~7.88M by Nov 2025)
  • Jamaica: Projected total visitors ~4.3M (US share historically ~50–60%)
  • Aruba: US arrivals up 9.7% in 2025; estimated total visitors ~1.4M (US share ~67–68%)
  • Curaçao: ~788,427 stay‑over visitors in 2025; US share estimated ~30–40% (US arrivals ~300,000)
  • Turks & Caicos: Estimated total visitors ~2M with US share ~75–80% (US arrivals ~1.6M)
  • Anguilla: Smaller market with estimated US arrivals ~36,000
Cruise ship approaching Bahamian coastline with resorts visible
Cruise and air access helped drive the Bahamas’ high share of US tourists in 2025

What’s driving the US tourism surge?

Analysts and tourism reports point to several overlapping reasons for the US-led rise in Caribbean travel: short flight times and frequent direct services from major US hubs; a wide offer of luxury resorts and affordable packages; and a robust cruise market that channels large numbers of American passengers to nearby islands.

  • Proximity and broad direct-flight networks from the US
  • Affordable luxury options and all‑inclusive packages
  • Strong cruise itinerary presence, especially for the Bahamas
  • Year-round warm climate driving off‑season demand from the US

Implications for the region

The concentration of US visitors in the Bahamas has two clear effects: it strengthens the islands’ tourism-led economy and raises competitive pressure on neighbouring destinations to diversify offerings or expand flight and cruise connectivity. For countries like the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Aruba, continued US demand supports jobs and investment, even as market share differs across islands.

Why this matters: For travellers, the trend means more flight options and expanded resort capacity in top US-facing markets, but also potentially busier ports and beaches during peak periods. For the industry, the US-heavy flows highlight the importance of maintaining route networks, cruise partnerships and luxury product development to capture continued growth.