Rethinking Caribbean Tourism

Draft Final Report © 2025 The World Bank1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000; Internet:www.worldbank.org Some rights reserved. This work is a product of The World Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work donot necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of The World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the data included in this workand does not assume responsibility for anyerrors, omissions, or discrepancies in the information, or liability withrespect to the use of or failure to use the information, methods, processes, or conclusions set forth. Theboundaries, colors, denominations, links/footnotes and other information shown in this work do not imply anyjudgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement oracceptance of such boundaries. The citation of works authored by others does not mean the World Bankendorses the views expressed by those authors or the content of their works. Nothing herein shall constitute or be construed or considered to be a limitation upon or waiver of the privileges andimmunities of The World Bank, all of which are specifically reserved. Rights and Permissions The material in this work is subject to copyright. Because The World Bank encourages dissemination of itsknowledge, this work may be reproduced, in whole or in part, for noncommercial purposes as long as fullattribution to this work is given. Attribution—Please cite the work as follows: “World Bank. 2025. Rethinking Caribbean Tourism: Strategies for aMore Sustainable Future.© World Bank.” This study was generously financed byPROBLUE,an umbrella multi-donor trust fund administered by the WorldBank that supports the sustainable and integrated development of marine and coastal resources in a healthyocean. Any queries on rights andlicenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to World Bank Publications,The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA; fax: 202-522-2625; e-mail:pubrights@worldbank.org. Photos:Cover: © Jessie McComb / World Bank. Pagex:© Jessie McComb / World Bank. Page xxvi:© JessieMcComb / World Bank. Page 20:Eskystudio / Adobe Stock. Page 46:©Moofushi/Adobe Stock. Page 66:©Nataraj/AdobeStock. Page 97:©Elaine Moore/Creative Commons. A World Bank team from the Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation (FCI) Global Practiceled by Amadou Dem (Senior Economist), Jessie McComb (Senior Private Sector Specialist),and Louise Twining-Ward (Senior Private Sector Specialist)and consisting of Paula BellasSuarez (Analyst), Jhanelle Rae Elizabeth Bowie (Operations Analyst), David Jose CorcinoPaulino(Private Sector Specialist),Shaun Mann(Senior Private Sector DevelopmentSpecialist), Sebastian Ogando (Intern), Vincent Palmade (Lead Economist),Monica ParraTorrado (Senior Economist), Francis Ratsimbazafy (Economist), Alba Suris Coll-Vinent(Consultant), Jose Miguel Villascusa Cerezo (Private Sector Specialist), and Jessica Wilson(Consultant) prepared this report.The core team was assisted by inputs from the PovertyGlobal Practice: Ronald Cueva (Consultant), Ruth Llovet (Economist), Trinidad Saavedra(Economist),andRomina Safojan (Consultant). External support was received from TenishaBrown-Williams (Consultant),Kennedy Pemberton (Consultant) and NielsenIQ consultingcompany. The teamworked under the guidance ofLilia Burunciuc (Country Director, Caribbean region),and Yira Mascaro (Practice Manager, FCI for Latin America and Caribbean). Guidance was alsoreceived from JB Collier (Program Leader, Sustainable Development, Caribbean), MarioGuadamillas (Practice Manager, FCI Global), Martha Licetti (Practice Manager,FCI for Europeand Central Asia), and Nataliya Mylenko (Lead Country Economist, Caribbean). This reportwould not have been possible without the extensive cooperation of organizations, businesses,institutions, and stakeholders across the region and in theglobal benchmark countries. Table of Contents Executive Summary.................................................................................................xi Chapter 1. Caribbean Tourism Now............................................................................1 2.1.Introduction.......................................................................................................212.2.Development challenges....................................................................................252.3.Policy Guidance.................................................................................................38 3.1.Introduction.......................................................................................................473.2.Development challenges....................................................................................523.3.Policy guidance...........................................................................