St. Vincent Tourism Soars; Jersey Opera House Reopens

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is among the Caribbean's fastest-growing tourism destinations in 2025, posting a 17.3% increase in visitor arrivals and attracting a record $500 million investment for a new Beaches Resort, helped by expanding U.S. airlift. Jersey is reinventing itself as a cultural getaway: after a five-year restoration the Jersey Opera House will reopen this October to host the island’s new national ballet, Ballet d’Jérri, while ArtHouse Jersey is relocating to St Helier to expand community outreach and cross-cultural programming. For U.S. travelers seeking passport-free island escapes, Puerto Rico and Catalina Island offer Mediterranean-style charm, snorkeling and easy access without international travel. The Caribbean remains a powerhouse for beach tourism and older travelers, but visitors seeking quieter shores are encouraged to explore lesser-known islands such as Eleuthera in the Bahamas for secluded pink-sand beaches. Beyond the Caribbean, Okinawa — nicknamed the “Caribbean of Asia” — continues to draw visitors with turquoise waters, rich coral reefs and world-class scuba and snorkeling around islands like the Keramas. Many islands balance tourism with conservation and affordability: Dominica markets itself as an unspoilt, sustainable nature destination with rainforest and marine protections, and at least 14 Caribbean islands advertise budget-friendly options.