The tourist arrivals numbers for the month of May offered mixed results for Cayman.
On the positive side, stayover tourism continued its record pace in 2026, with 40,015 tourists arriving by air, a 16.5% increase over 2025. The number was only the second time in Cayman’s history with more than 40,000 air arrivals in May and second only to the 40,591 air arrivals in 2019.
“May’s results continue the positive trend that has defined our stayover visitor arrivals throughout 2026,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Trade Development Gary Rutty in a press release issued by Cayman’s Department of Tourism.
“Alongside our efforts to expand airlift from key markets and welcome new routes such as the Austin service, these results are evidence of our growing tourism economy and the strength of the Cayman Islands positioning as preferred vacation destination.”
For the year, Cayman remains on a pace to exceed the record 502,739 tourist air arrivals in 2019. Through May of that year, there had been 232,474 air arrivals, while through May of this year, there have been 248,234 air arrivals, 6.8% more than 2019.
Growth in arrivals from Canada continues
Although the United States remains the largest market for air arrivals, with 83% coming from that country in May, Canada continues to show double-digit growth as a source market for stayover tourists. May saw 2,754 air arrivals from Canada, which while only 6.9% of the totals, represents a 49.8% increase year on year.
“Visitation growth from Canada is expected to continue through the remainder of 2026, supported by flight capacity increases throughout the summer and fall,” the press release stated. “Growth from Canada will gain further momentum in December with the return of Porter Airlines, increasing connectivity from both Toronto and Ottawa with up to 15 flights per week throughout the 2025/2026 winter season.”
Cruise arrivals plummet
The news wasn’t as good with regard to cruise passenger arrivals, which saw only 36,898 tourists arrive in May. The figure represents the lowest by far ever recorded for the month. May’s figure represents a 30.5% decrease from the 53,076 cruise passenger arrivals in May 2025, which was the lowest on record for the month in history up until that time.
For the year, however, cruise arrivals are still 6.1% above last year through May.
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We need to think about how we position ourselves (from a tourism perspective) for the next 30 years. in the 1970’s we sold ourselves as a dive destination. In the 80’s and 90’s it became more about seven Mile beach. That expanded as did the hotels in the last 20 years.
Are we really going to be selling SMB as the defacto draw in 30 years or 40? From a tourism perspective we need to create another reason to spend time here. Another destination, or draw.
Eco Tourism in Little Cayman.. Rock climbing in the Brac .. Something.
Bob Soto seemed ahead of his time when he started to take people under water. We need to think about how to position ourselves for the future and it’s not healthy to pin everything on SMB and Stingray city.
Very good thoughts Frank!
Unfortunately 7 Mile Beach is no longer the draw it used to be – too much erosion, the beauty & serenity is gone, lost to high rise buildings!
Divers are no longer wanted on the island. Cayman no longer exemplifies the ‘charming, island feel’ it did in the past.
Reinvent while you still have time to recover – not everyone wants 5 star resort living while on vacation. Bring back the old charm – when ladies walked to church on Sunday morning down West Bay Rd; stores were closed on Sundays; crime didn’t exist, we could leave our doors unlocked; there were breezes when walking on 7 mile beach that are no longer there due to the high rise hotels/condos.
It’s all very sad – all if the “progress” needs to be reexamined!!!