The Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region worldwide. Travel and tourism are crucial to the sustainability and resilience of Caribbean economies, as they drive revenue, provide employment, bring in foreign currency and promote global connectivity and cultural exchange. However, travel and tourism can also be a source of disease introduction and spread into the Caribbean and consequently impact upon Caribbean health. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic debilitated Caribbean economies, caused significant illness and death, reduced economic activity, resulted in job losses, social and political turmoil, disruption of crucial services and threatened regional health security. Concerns regarding health, safety and the uncertainty associated with COVID-19 significantly lowered tourists’ desire and intention to travel to the Caribbean. The pandemic reinforced the need to include health as a critical component of the travel and tourism sector. This chapter will illustrate the vulnerability of Caribbean tourism and travel to infectious diseases, using norovirus and COVID-19 as exemplars. It will also delve into the multifaceted reasons for the integration of health in the region’s tourism and travel sector. The chapter will introduce the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s (CARPHA) Regional Tourism and Health Program outlining its objectives, its role in strengthening preparedness and response to public health threats and its contribution to improving the resilience, health security and economic stability of Caribbean tourism.

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Tourism and Health in the Caribbean

  • Lisa Indar,
  • Sastee Kissoondan,
  • Babatunde Olowokure

摘要

The Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region worldwide. Travel and tourism are crucial to the sustainability and resilience of Caribbean economies, as they drive revenue, provide employment, bring in foreign currency and promote global connectivity and cultural exchange. However, travel and tourism can also be a source of disease introduction and spread into the Caribbean and consequently impact upon Caribbean health. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic debilitated Caribbean economies, caused significant illness and death, reduced economic activity, resulted in job losses, social and political turmoil, disruption of crucial services and threatened regional health security. Concerns regarding health, safety and the uncertainty associated with COVID-19 significantly lowered tourists’ desire and intention to travel to the Caribbean. The pandemic reinforced the need to include health as a critical component of the travel and tourism sector. This chapter will illustrate the vulnerability of Caribbean tourism and travel to infectious diseases, using norovirus and COVID-19 as exemplars. It will also delve into the multifaceted reasons for the integration of health in the region’s tourism and travel sector. The chapter will introduce the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s (CARPHA) Regional Tourism and Health Program outlining its objectives, its role in strengthening preparedness and response to public health threats and its contribution to improving the resilience, health security and economic stability of Caribbean tourism.