Tobago experiences a significant 23% decline in cruise passengers during the 2025-2026 season compared to the previous year. The island hosted 32 cruise ship calls, welcoming a total of 37,753 visitors. Of these, 37,086 arrived via Scarborough Port.
Visitor Exploration Highlights
Overall, 10,868 passengers disembarked to discover Tobago’s attractions. Key sites included Pigeon Point Heritage Park, which drew 3,753 visitors; Buccoo Reef, attracting 2,070; and the south tour, enjoyed by 1,776 passengers.
The season concluded on April 10 with the Marella Explorer’s final visit, marking its 10th call to the island—the highest number by any single vessel this season.
Trends from Prior Seasons
The downward trend continues from recent years. In the 2024-2025 season, Tobago recorded 41 calls and 51,069 visitors. The season before that saw peak performance with 64 calls and 102,512 passengers.
Stakeholder Concerns Over Marketing and Infrastructure
Reginald MacLean, President of the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association, points to inadequate tourism marketing budgets as a primary cause. He notes the current allocation falls short for global promotion efforts.
MacLean stated, “You have to pay for office buildings, office staff, travelling staff and the foreign entities that help promote you. Fifty million dollars is a drop in the bucket. If you’re not willing to put a lot of money into tourism, all this talk about diversification is gonna be pie in the sky.”
He urges a review of agencies tasked with securing cruise lines and investments in infrastructure upgrades, including the Port of Charlotteville, to reverse the decline.
