Tourism in Tortola has entered a new phase of expansion, following a record-breaking year for the wider British Virgin Islands in 2025. The figures underline both the resilience of the destination after years of disruption and the structural importance of tourism to the islands’ economy, with Tortola at the centre of this recovery.
Tag: Caribbean
Dominican Republic welcomed 11.6 million international visitors in 2025
Tourism in the Dominican Republic is not only breaking records, it is evolving into one of the most diversified and structurally important visitor economies in the Americas. The latest figures confirm a sector that has moved well beyond its traditional reliance on beach resorts, combining scale with increasing sophistication.
Aruba consolidates its position as a Caribbean tourism powerhouse
Tourism in Aruba has grown into one of the most robust and mature visitor economies in the Caribbean, driven by strong demand from North America, a highly developed resort sector and a reputation for reliability, safety and year-round sunshine. Unlike smaller or more niche destinations such as Bonaire, Aruba operates at scale, welcoming large volumes…
66 countries criminalise gay sex
The number of countries where consensual same-sex sexual relations are illegal has risen to 66 following the adoption of a new anti-LGBTQ law in Niger in June 2026, marking a reversal after years of gradual global decriminalisation. Specialist on the subject is the blog 76 Crimes. When Colin Stewart started that project, the list contained…
CURAÇAO | Tourism records for 2025, with 11,500 from Belgium
Curaçao closed 2025 with around 788,000 overnight visitors, TravMagazine reports, representing growth of 13% compared with the previous year. Including cruise passengers and day visitors, total visitor numbers rose to approximately 1.7 million, a year-on-year increase of about 9%.
TUI’s Mein Schiff launches ‘Rainbow Cruise: The Next Chapter – A Future of Unity’ for 2027
TUI‘s Mein Schiff has announced a new edition of its popular LGBTQIA+ themed voyage, ‘Rainbow Cruise: The Next Chapter – A Future of Unity‘, set to take place from 28 September to 3 October 2027 aboard Mein Schiff 2.
Brussels Airport now connected to Beijing, Chengdu, São Paulo, Chongqin, and Sälen, but loses the Caribbean
Brussels Airport in Zaventem will further expand its long-haul offer in the coming years, with several new intercontinental destinations joining the network. From March 2026, Air China will launch direct flights from Brussels Airport to Beijing and Chengdu, adding two major Asian destinations for Belgian travellers.
REVIEW | Rijksmuseum van Oudheden or National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden
May 2025. I have a few days off so I decide to take a train to Leiden (Leyden, Leyde) in the Dutch province of South Holland to visit the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, or the National Museum of Antiquities. Steve, my former Latin and Ancient Greek teacher in my teen years, says it’s quite good. As…
Travel in 2024: Spain, France, USA, China, Mexico lose ground and Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, UAE to grow market share
In 2024, Google and consultancy giant Deloitte wrote the paper ‘NextGen Travellers and Destinations‘, studying the the before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, the paper was written before 2025, which has proven to be a year of turmoil the world hasn’t experienced in many decades.
CRUISE REVIEW | 7 days on NCL’s Norwegian Getaway in the East Mediterranean Sea / Aegean Sea
July 2024. Steve and I are cruising on the Norwegian Getaway, a Breakaway class ship by Norwegian Cruise Line or NCL. Interestingly, our stay on board happened shortly after the Getaway paid a visit to the dry dock for some refurbishments. The route? Piraeus, which is the port of Athens in Greece; followed by Mykonos;…