The Cayman Islands welcomed 40,460 stayover visitors in June 2026 recording its eighth consecutive month of year-over-year stayover growth. This was a 6.9% increase compared with June 2025 with growth led by the United States and strongly supported by increased visitation from Canada and Europe.
June's performance solidified a record first half of 2026 for the destination, with stayover arrivals between January and June reaching 288,694, an increase of 11.3% from the same period in 2025.
Cruise Arrivals Show Year on Year Increase
The destination also welcomed 55,639 cruise passengers in June, an increase of 15.5% compared with June 2025.
Total visitation for June, including both stayover and cruise passengers, was 96,099 up 11.7% year over year.
The first half of 2026 saw the destination welcome 681,391 cruise passengers, an increase of 6.8% compared to the same period in 2025. This increase underscored the destination’s robust growth trajectory across every segment of tourism industry.
“Tourism is one of the strongest engines of our national economy, and a record first half of the year means that engine is delivering for Caymanians,” said Hon. Gary Rutty, Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Trade Development. “Growth of this type extends well beyond the arrivals hall. It is shown in the wages of our hospitality workers, in the order books of our restaurants, taxi operators, water sports businesses and small suppliers, and in the confidence of those choosing to invest in our tourism product. Eight consecutive months of stayover growth, alongside sustained cruise arrivals, gives our people and our businesses something they can plan around. The Cayman Islands Government remains committed to ensuring that this growth continues to create real, lasting opportunity across all three Islands.”
Canada Continues to Lead Market Growth
Canada was the destination's fastest growing market in June recording its strongest June on record with arrivals reaching 1,679, an increase of 44.1% compared with June 2025. Arrivals from Canada for the first half of the year reached a record 26,674, up 48.9% compared to the same period in 2025.
Canada's share of total year-to-date stayover visitation has grown to 9.2%, up from 6.9% in 2025. This increase has moved Canada from a secondary market for the destination to a new primary market and is a testament to the results of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism’s business development strategy focused on diversifying the destination’s source markets.
European Market Growth Fueled by Trade Partnerships
European markets also showed solid gains in June, reflecting the continued strength of the destination's strategic partnerships with travel trade in the UK, Ireland, and European markets.
Visitors from the UK and Ireland increased by 4.1%, while Continental Europe recorded the strongest increase at 73.9%, led by growth from France, Germany, and Spain. Arrivals from UK & Ireland for the first half of the year rose by 8.0% and arrivals from Continental Europe increased by 22.9%.
LATAM Shows Strong Year-Over-Year Growth
Latin America saw a modest dip of 4.8% in June, however the market's overall performance for the first half of the year showed a more positive outlook with arrivals up 10.8% compared with the same period in 2025. This increase in arrivals is evidence of growing interest among Latin American travellers in the Cayman Islands as an alternative warm-weather destination as the result of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism’s strategic engagement in the region.
The United States Delivers Largest Number of Visitors for June
The United States generated the largest absolute increase of any market in June, adding 2,259 visitors for growth of 6.8% compared with June 2025.
The largest gains came from the Southern states with an increase of 4.1%, driven by visitors from Austin and Miami-Fort Lauderdale.
Increased Airlift Continues to Support Visitation Growth
June's visitation was supported by continued strengthening of the destination's airlift.
Inbound airlift capacity from the United States and Canada, together with British Airways' London-Grand Cayman service via Nassau, increased by 9.0%over the previous year.
The expansion in North America for the first six months of the year was led by increased capacity from Miami, Toronto, Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta, alongside new service from Ottawa, Fort Lauderdale and Austin.
Cayman Airways launched its new service from Austin in June, following the Department’s participation in an aviation industry trade show in that city. The new route reflects the Department’s ongoing work to translate trade engagement into new and expanded air service, giving visitors more travel options and supporting sustained demand for the Cayman Islands.
Strong Visitation Translates into Meaningful Economic Impact
June's stayover growth translated to strong commercial results for the destination's accommodations sector.
According to global hotel intelligence firm STR Inc., hotel occupancy reached 61.0% in June 2026, an increase of 5.3 percentage points compared with June 2025.
The Average Daily Rate (ADR) rose 6.7% over June 2025and Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) increased 16.8% year over year.
Notably, this growth happened concurrently with an increase in inventory with the opening of ONE GT in May 2026, demonstrating that increased visitor demand is keeping pace with the destination's growing room supply.
Year-to-date through June, occupancy rose 6.4 percentage points to 73.3% compared with the same period in 2025, while ADR increased 6.2% and RevPAR rose 16.3%.
Hotel revenue for the first half of the year recorded an increase of 17.3% when compared to the first six months of 2025 – a clear indication that record stayover visitation is translating directly into stronger earnings for tourism businesses and, in turn, the wider Cayman Islands economy.
“Results like these are never accidental. They are the product of steady, deliberate work by the team at the Department of Tourism and by our partners right across the industry,” said Rosa Harris, Director of Tourism. “Eight consecutive months of stayover growth reflects the disciplined execution of a clear strategy – diversifying our source markets, securing, and sustaining airlift, deepening our travel trade relationships, and keeping the Cayman Islands visible in the markets that matter most. Canada’s rise from a secondary market to a primary one, and the new Austin service that followed our aviation trade engagement, are examples of that work translating into measurable results.”
She continued, “As we move through the summer months, the Department remains focused on strengthening our airlift, deepening our travel trade partnerships in our growing markets like Canada, the UK, Ireland and Europe, and continuing to position the Cayman Islands as a preferred year-round destination.”
To learn more about how tourism drives economic growth across the Cayman Islands, the public is encouraged to follow the Chamber of Commerce’s Tourism Matters series.
The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT) supports the overall strategic objectives of the destination by providing reliable statistical data, useful information and analysis for future planning, decision making, and policy formulation. CIDOT provides online statistical data in an easy-to-use format for persons requiring tourism related figures.
To view visitation statistics please visit: www.ourcayman.ky