New regional data exposes significant economic imbalances within the Caribbean’s short-term rental market, with four destinations accounting for the overwhelming majority of tourism revenue while smaller nations struggle to gain foothold in the lucrative sector.
According to AirROI’s comprehensive analysis covering October 2024 through October 2025, the entire CARICOM region generated approximately $396 million from vacation rental properties. However, this wealth distribution reveals a pronounced concentration, with The Bahamas, Jamaica, Belize, and Barbados collectively capturing 84% of total market revenue.
The Bahamas emerged as the undisputed regional leader, amassing $148.6 million in short-term rental earnings—representing nearly 38% of all CARICOM income in this sector. Jamaica secured second position with $80.8 million, followed by Belize at $53.4 million and Barbados with $51.3 million.
Antigua and Barbuda positioned itself as a mid-tier performer within the regional landscape, generating $23.2 million during the tracking period. This performance placed the twin-island nation ahead of Eastern Caribbean counterparts including St. Lucia, which recorded $13 million in short-term rental revenue.
The data reveals particularly challenging conditions for smaller Caribbean territories. Montserrat’s vacation rental market produced merely $123,700 over the thirteen-month period, while Haiti and Dominica registered $175,200 and $487,000 respectively, highlighting the structural challenges facing less-developed tourism markets in the region.
This detailed market analysis provides crucial insights into the Caribbean’s evolving tourism economy, demonstrating how short-term rental platforms are reshaping regional economic dynamics while simultaneously exacerbating existing disparities between established and emerging tourist destinations.