The U.S. Virgin Islands Tourism Department has announced record-breaking passenger arrival numbers, underscoring the growing appeal of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John as premier Caribbean destinations.
On Dec. 28, 2024, the territory welcomed 4,606 visitors, surpassing the single-day record set in March 2024. The milestone capped a record-setting week with more than 24,000 arrivals, a 5.92 percent increase over the previous high, according to a V.I. Tourism Department press release.
“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,” said Joseph Boschulte, commissioner of the Tourism Department.
In 2024, combined arrivals at Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix totaled 932,265 passengers, an increase of more than 100,000 compared to the previous record set during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2024 total represents a 16.5 percent increase over 2023, according to the press release.
Cruise tourism also saw significant growth, with the territory welcoming 1,770,922 cruise passengers in 2024, a 9.8 percent increase from the prior year. The boost was fueled by maiden voyages from ships including Scarlet Lady, Icon of the Seas, Disney Treasure, Explora I, and Celebrity Apex, the press release stated.
Tourism Growth in 2024: Key Figures and Achievements
- Airline Arrivals: 932,265 passengers at St. Thomas and St. Croix airports, a 16.5 percent increase over 2023.
- Cruise Passengers: 1,770,922 arrivals, a 9.8 percent year-over-year rise.
- Record Month: March saw 106,026 arrivals, the highest monthly total of the year.
The territory’s airlift expanded with new and returning routes from airlines, including American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, and United Airlines, among others, the release stated.
Industry Honors and Accolades
The U.S. Virgin Islands received several tourism 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 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards:
- Top 10 Best Beach (Honeymoon Beach, St. John)
- The World’s 50 Best Beaches: Trunk Bay, St. John, named the number one Beach in the World
- Expedia 2024 Summer Outlook: St. Thomas ranked the number one Domestic Trending Summer Destination
- HSMAI Adrian Awards: Bronze for Experiential Marketing
“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,” Boschulte added.
For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands, visit visitusvi.com.
