Thursday, October 3, 2024 As winter approaches, American travelers are increasingly eyeing Caribbean destinations for their getaways, with Costa Rica , Puerto Rico, and the Mexican Caribbean leading the pack, according to data from Mabrian, a global travel intelligence platform. Mabrian’s analysis, based on the Share of Searches Index—which tracks flight searches from the top 20 U.S.
airports—indicates a growing interest in various Caribbean locales. This index reflects market interest independent of confirmed bookings, highlighting trends in flight search behavior for trips scheduled between November 2024 and February 2025. The United States remains a crucial source market for the Caribbean, with the Caribbean Tourism Association (CTO) reporting approximately 16.
3 million stay-over arrivals from the U.S. in 2023, marking a 12.
7% increase year over year. Notably, Costa Rica has seen the most significant rise in demand, with inspirational interest increasing by 33% compared to the previous year. The Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, serving the northwestern region, is experiencing a staggering 54% surge in demand, driven by access to popular coastal areas such as Tambor and Tamarindo.
“Costa Rica’s growing appeal across American airports indicates it is a top-of-mind winter destination, suggesting a promising outlook for bookings and arrivals,” stated Carlos Cendra, Partner and Director of Marketing and Communications at Mabrian. Puerto Rico follows wit.