Caribbean Tourism Industry Devastated by Hurricanes Maria and Irma

The Caribbean Tourism Industry Devastated by Hurricanes Maria and Irma. The economic impact for Independent Tour Operators in the Caribbean will be staggering.  Today life is in a survival mode to even  find Housing, Food, Water. The lack of power and cell phone access which most Tour Guide needs to communicate and run their businesses are for the most part gone at this time.

Owning a small Tour Operation in Guatemala and having lived through Topical Storm Agatha on Lake Atitlan my heart goes out to all the Small Tour Operators that are currently without any forms of Income in the Caribbean Islands.

Similar to Guatemala Caribbean Countries rely on Tourism in some cases making up as much as 60% of the Virgin Island‘s GDP for example.

The devastation wrought by Hurricane Irma across the Caribbean will not dampen the region’s resolve to continue to be one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, tourism bosses have said.

Hardest hit are the British Virgin Islands, Barbuda, Antigua, Puerto Rico, Turks, Caicos Islands, St Martin and parts of the Florida Keys, suffered extensive damage as a result of the recent Hurricanes.

Impact on Tourism for the Virgin Islands.

Tourism, trade, and other services are the primary economic activities, accounting for nearly 60% of the Virgin Island’s GDP and about half of total civilian employment. Close to two million tourists per year visit the islands.

Tourism in Puerto Rico attracted 4.2 million visitors in 2013 and 4 million visitors in 2011, a notable increase over 2010 at 3.68 million, tourism has been a money revenue industry for Puerto Rico for a number of decades given it is host to diverse natural wonders, cultural and historical buildings, concerts and sporting events.

The devastation caused by one of history’s largest Hurricanes, has especially in the popular Florida Keys, is a direct strike at the $90bn industry that fuels the state’s economic engine, with the harm caused incalculable, experts say, at least in the short term.

The Media covering these events have painted a picture in some Caribbean Islands of complete and total devastation. With an estimated cost to rebuild the Island of Barbuda at $100 million dollars. Barbuda is said to be none habitable, the French-Dutch territory of St. Martin is almost completely destroyed. Puerto Rico is facing the possibility of months without power after Hurricane Maria.

Our hearts to go out to all Tour Guides in these countries that rely solely on the Tourism Dollar to Live. This will be a long road to recovery.

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