One of the first hotels in the Caribbean, the Bath Hotel on the island of Nevis, opened in 1778. An influx of visitors followed, mostly from the European elite. Britain, France, Spain and the Netherlands all held colonies in the Caribbean, and these provided opportunities for travelers to enjoy the exotic tropical climate while still remaining comfortably within their own cultures and speaking their own languages. With the advent of commercialized air travel in the 1960s, the Caribbean opened up to a wider range of visitors from the United States and beyond.
The Caribbean climate is tropical, offering warm beaches throughout the year, along with recreational opportunities that include swimming, boating, snorkeling and more. Given the diverse cultural and historical influences across the Caribbean, the region also offers a wealth of options for visitors interested in local food, music and culture.
Tourism has had a significant economic impact on many areas of the Caribbean, bringing amenities such as transportation, water treatment, telephones and electricity to previously undeveloped regions. However, many local economies have come to rely almost exclusively on tourism dollars, while others have suffered as profits are funneled away from local residents by large multinational corporations.
Ecotourism and other forms of adventure travel have increased awareness of many of the Caribbean's unique landforms and ecosystems. However, tourism has also resulted in large-scale development, reducing habitat and threatening the populations of many native species.
