Caribbean tourism will struggle to recover from crisis

Significance

While some of the larger tourism markets in the region such as the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Puerto Rico are attempting to follow suit, they face the risk that returning visitors could also drive increased transmission of COVID-19.

Impacts

• A US maritime ‘no sail’ order, in place until at least October 31, will compound the already bleak prospects of cruise tourism this year.
• Caribbean economies will build up large fiscal deficits in the absence of tourism revenues.
• In the long term, the crisis will provide a further incentive for economic diversification beyond tourism.