Tourists defy hurricanes to holiday in Caribbean

Despite catastrophic hurricanes, tourist arrivals rose significantly in the Caribbean last year with many travellers saying they consider the region a haven from terrorism and other turmoil.

Almost 22 million tourists visited the Caribbean in 2004, a 7% increase from 2003, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, which conducted a study of its 32 member countries and territories. The region also received about 20 million cruise ship passengers, a 13% rise, the Barbados-based organisation said.

A stronger Euro made Caribbean vacations more affordable for Europeans, whose numbers increased about 4%, Sobers said, while arrivals from Canada surged 16%, with most heading to Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Caribbean tourism managed a swift recovery from one of its worst hurricane seasons in history.

Worst hit was Grenada, where Hurricane Ivan killed 39 people and left a wasteland of ruined buildings.