Cayman closed 2025 on a high note, with record-breaking December visitation pushing annual stayover arrivals to the third-highest total on record and marking the closest the country has come since the pandemic to matching its 2019 peak.
According to the latest tourism statistics, December 2025 recorded 54,830 stayover visitors, the highest December total on record, exceeding December 2024 by more than 2,700 visitors – a 5.3% increase. The month also surpassed the previous December record, set in 2019, when Cayman welcomed 54,188 stayover visitors.
The strong December followed a softer late-summer and early-autumn period. Arrivals dipped to 12,929 in September and remained comparatively subdued in October at 20,072 before rebounding sharply in November with 37,154 visitors and surging again in December.
Across the full year, Cayman averaged just over 37,500 stayover visitors per month, with March emerging as the strongest month overall at 58,397 arrivals. January and February also posted solid results, while July and August reflected the usual summer season slowdown.
December’s performance rounded out a year that saw 450,441 stayover arrivals, highlighting Cayman’s sustained post-pandemic rebound and underlying growth.
The 2025 total represents a 2.9% increase over 2024, which recorded 437,842 arrivals, and ranks as the third-highest annual total in the 26-year record, behind only 2018 at 463,001 and the record-setting year of 2019 at 502,739.
Gary Rutty, deputy premier and minister for tourism, said the 2025 results highlight Cayman’s competitive appeal and the impact of sustained collaboration across the tourism sector and its airline partners.
“It is truly encouraging to see such strong growth in our stayover arrivals in 2025,” Rutty said. “The Cayman Islands continues to stand out from our competitors as a premier destination, and these results reflect the dedication of our tourism industry and our airline partners who continue to invest in our islands.”
Source market trends
The United States remained Cayman’s largest source market in 2025, delivering 370,093 stayover visitors, a 2.7% increase year over year. December arrivals from the US rose by 4.8% compared to the same month in 2024, driven largely by travellers from the Midwest and southern states.
Growth was particularly strong from major urban centres including Chicago, Dallas–Fort Worth, Miami–Fort Lauderdale and Houston, supported by increased airlift from Dallas–Fort Worth, Miami, Chicago and Minneapolis.
Canada recorded a standout year, posting 7.1% growth compared to 2024 and becoming the first market to surpass its 2019 visitation levels. Canadian monthly visitation records were set in March, July, September, November and December, supported by a 9% increase in airline seat capacity.
The introduction of Porter Airlines flights from Toronto and Ottawa in December, alongside expanded services from Air Canada and WestJet, played a key role in the market’s performance.
The UK and Ireland delivered steady growth in 2025, welcoming 15,402 visitors, up 3.1% year over year. December was particularly strong, with 2,017 arrivals, the second-highest monthly total ever recorded for the market. The Department of Tourism attributed this performance to sustained investment in the region, including participation in major trade shows such as World Travel Market in London and IBTM World in Barcelona.
Continental Europe closed the year with 5,784 visitors, down 6.6% compared to 2024, though December showed signs of recovery. Arrivals from the region increased by 4.2% year over year in December, reversing declines seen earlier in the year, with growth led by Italy and supported by Eastern Europe.
Latin America also finished the year on a positive note, recording 3% growth compared to 2024. South America was the strongest contributor, with arrivals up 9.5% year over year. December arrivals from the region increased by 8.8%, driven by travellers from Honduras, Brazil and Argentina.
Looking to the year ahead, Rutty said the focus will be on deepening alliances, improving the visitor offering and increasing flight capacity to sustain global visibility.
“As we look ahead to 2026, we will continue to focus on strengthening our partnerships, enhancing our tourism product, and expanding airlift so that the Cayman Islands remains top of mind for travellers around the world,” he said.
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So, for less than 6000 European tourists a year, Government is still considering lengthening the runway at huge financial and environmental risk? How’s the Euro marketing campaign going, CO Bodden?
DoT, do you think Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa tragedy, Trump’s policy on Canada (Canadians boycotting Florida and other warm US locations), Trump’s Venezuela policy (destabilizing Eastern Caribbean travel) might have had any impact on our December numbers? Or was it ALL the work of our brilliant MoT and DoT staff?
In any case, more promotions like Chief Relaxation Officer, two fully-paid weeks of enjoying Cayman at public expense will surely help.