New Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Chairman Dionisio D’Aguilar had positive news to share for the Caribbean when it comes to cruise ships at a press conference held this week in New York.

Speaking at his first news briefing as chairman, D’Aguilar said: “In the first three months, cruise passenger arrivals increased by an estimated 4.5 percent compared to the same period of last year. This performance translated to approximately 10 million passengers.”

D’Aguilar was recently elected CTO chairman, becoming one of the most powerful faces in Caribbean tourism and economic development. D’Aguilar is also the acting Minister of Tourism and Aviation in the Bahamas, and has a strong business background.

In other recent Caribbean news, Royal Caribbean announced in April it would continue upgrades aimed at Oasis-class ships.