Caribbean Ranks High on List of World’s Most Tourism-Dependent Regions

Caribbean Ranks High on List of World’s Most Tourism-Dependent Regions

The Caribbean is currently the world’s most tourism dependent region. This is according to the president of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Richard Skerritt. Skerritt said that the tourism industry is the second source of employment and the main source of income in the region, worth over $39 billion last year and the main challenge is making up for economic growth with community sustainable development.

In the last few years, environmental and farm leaders have denounced problems in sugar and banana production and in farm market access caused by tourism development, he said. Authorities are considering holding talks with the sectors to curb the negative perception of tourism in the region.

Priorities in this regard include increasing private and European investment and opening the region to the Asian market, he said. Last week a Chinese construction company announced infrastructure works in three islands in the Bahamas, another group in the Caribbean.