Travel & Tourism is one of the most important economic sectors in the Caribbean. The 46.7 million international visitors who came to the region in 2016 spent US$31.4 billion which supported a total of $56.4 billion in GDP and 2.4 million jobs. Meanwhile, the domestic market generates more than 25% of the region’s Travel & Tourism GDP.

Overall, Travel & Tourism contributes 15.2% of the Caribbean’s GDP and 13.8% of employment. However, in around half of the countries analysed, the sector accounts for over 25% of GDP – more than double the world average of 10.4%. It is therefore vital to the Caribbean economy that Travel & Tourism recovers as quickly as possible from the damage caused by the unusually severe hurricanes of 2017 – most notably Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September. They had a major impact on popular tourist destinations such as the BVI and Puerto Rico, although around two thirds of the region avoided any damage.

This report assesses the immediate and long-term impact of the 2017 hurricane season on the Travel & Tourism sector across the Caribbean as a whole and on specific islands. It describes the losses that the sector has already experienced, forecasts when Travel & Tourism is likely to return to its previous level of growth, and recommends government policies and marketing strategies that can help speed economic recovery.