by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 4:55 PM ET, Fri March 27, 2026
The Cayman Islands are boasting tourism growth for a second straight month to kick off 2026. The country recorded a 10.1% year-over-year increase with 49,075 stayover visitors in February, and 6,102 of them were Canadian.
That might not be a huge percentage of the overall visitation, but it represents a big jump when compared with February of 2025: a 47 percent increase year over year and the highest monthly visitation total ever recorded from the market.
January was also a strong month for tourism in the Caymans, with a record-breaking 95,112 visitors, an 11.8% increase over the same period in 2025.
“Delivering one of the strongest February performances in our history, following a record-breaking January, demonstrates the continued success of our strategic focus on airlift expansion, targeted marketing and strong industry partnerships,” says The Hon. Gary Rutty, Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism and Trade Development. “The Cayman Islands continues to perform at a high level across multiple markets, reinforcing our position as a leading premium destination in the Caribbean.”
According to the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT), total inbound airlift capacity from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada increased by 20.9% in February 2026, supported by new February services from Toronto and Ottawa.
Hotel performance in February also remained strong with global hotel intelligence firm, STR Inc. recording an 8.7% increase in the destination’s average daily rate (ADR) over the same period in 2025.
With continued airlift expansion and strong demand across key markets, the Cayman Islands is well-positioned to sustain the trend in the first quarter of 2026.
“Cayman’s visitor chooses our destination due to its accessibility, safety and premium positioning,” says Director of Tourism, Rosa Harris, “February’s performance reflects the strength of our global demand and the effectiveness of our strategic investment in developing emerging markets. We look forward to continuing to deliver meaningful results for the destination.”
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