Economic factors in the Caribbean make the tourist industry unsustainable unless changes are made. For instance, goods sold in the Caribbean are generally imported, meaning that it is more expensive and harder to get items for a growing tourist population. Additionally, the tourist industry provides just 15 percent of the gross domestic product, meaning that not enough money from tourism is being funneled back into the local economy. Foreigners own many of the hotels there, as well, so money made from tourism there often fuels foreign economies.
The tourism industry also causes safety issues on the islands. Tourists traveling to the Caribbean, especially those visiting crime hot spots such as bars and nightclubs, are more susceptible to robbery. Since law enforcement is often lax in tourist areas, some poorer youths regularly engage in tourist robberies. Additionally, casual drug use by tourists has increased the drug trade there, fueling violent crimes. Occasionally, the area has been witness to very serious crime; a rash of murders and assaults occurred in the 1990s, and in 1992 it was reported that the U.S. Virgin Islands had a higher violent crime rate per person than New York City.
Another factor affecting tourism in the Caribbean is the outbreak of food- or water-borne illnesses. The Caribbean Tourism Organization reports that there were more than 55 outbreaks of food or water-related illnesses in the five years between 2000 and 2005. Obtaining fresh water has also been problematic in the past, and with tourism growing, fears remain that there may not be enough fresh water to support the growing needs.
Tourism over the years has had an effect on the natural environment surrounding the Caribbean. Silt deposits from erosion in the area choke and destroy natural coral reefs, a popular tourist destination, and poorly managed waste has piled up and sullied the area's natural beauty. Additionally, the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy found that Trinidad and Tobago ranked 139th out of 146 countries in terms of environmental sustainability. Furthermore, some observers fear there are not enough energy resources in the Caribbean to match demand.
