The total number of tourists visiting the Caribbean island rose sharply from 1 million in 2010 to over 2.5 million in 2015, and continued to increase through 2017 without any decrease. This growth can be attributed to a significant rise in the number of tourists staying on cruise ships, especially between 2013 and 2017, and a stable increase of those staying on the island until 2013 .

The stable number of tourists staying on the island from 2013 to 2015 implies potential saturation in island accommodation facilities or a shift in tourist preferences towards cruise options. This suggests that tourism management might need to focus on diversifying and enhancing island accommodations or leveraging the increasing popularity of cruises to manage visitor capacity and resources efficiently .

From 2010 to 2013, tourists staying on cruise ships experienced a slight change and then significantly increased from 0.5 million in 2013 to 1.25 million in 2015. In contrast, those staying on the island showed minimal change initially, remaining at 0.75 million between 2010 and 2011, before experiencing growth until 2013. In the middle of 2015, the number of tourists staying on cruise ships exceeded those staying on the island, and continued to be the second highest group of visitors after that .

The overall trend shows a steady increase in tourist numbers without any declines, indicating sustained growth in the island's tourism appeal. This consistently rising trend suggests effectiveness in attracting diverse tourist categories, possibly supported by the island's marketing strategies and the increasing popularity of cruise tourism .

In 2015, the number of tourists staying on cruise ships surpassed those staying on the island, marking a significant shift in tourist accommodation preferences. This change was highlighted by the increase in cruise ship visitors from 0.5 million in 2013 to 1.25 million in 2015, while island stayers remained more stagnant during this period .

The significant increase in tourists on cruise ships from 2013 onwards, culminating in surpassing those staying on the island in 2015, may be due to the appeal of the cruise experience, which combines travel and accommodation. Cruise ships could offer greater convenience, cost-effectiveness, or diversity in attractions compared to island stays, making them increasingly attractive to travelers .

To sustain growth, the island might diversify its tourism offerings by enhancing land-based activities and accommodations to appeal to diverse tourist preferences. It could also invest in eco-friendly cruise port facilities to minimize environmental impact while increasing tourist flow management. Implementing incentives for longer stays may help balance revenue between cruise and island accommodations .

The shift towards more tourists choosing cruise ships may reduce the economic benefits to the island, as cruise visitors typically spend less locally than those who stay on land. However, the consistent tourist arrivals overall may support local businesses indirectly as tour services and port activities potentially increase. This shift calls for potential strategies to enhance economic gains from the increasing cruise visitors .

The increasing number of cruise ship tourists could pose challenges such as strain on docking infrastructure, environmental impact concerns, and limited economic benefits for the island, as cruise tourists may spend less locally compared to those staying on land. These dynamics necessitate developing strategies to balance the economic impact and environmental sustainability of growing cruise tourism .

From 2010 to 2011, tourists staying on the island remained constant at 0.75 million, followed by growth until 2013, and a period of stability again from 2013 to 2015. This indicates that there might be consistent demand for island stays, suggesting effective marketing or the island's appeal, despite the rise in cruise tourism. It could imply a reliable tourist base or strategies maintaining tourist interest in island accommodations .