Improving Resilience and Recovery to the Travel and Tourism Industry in the Caribbean

Abstract

Travel and tourism is key for the sustainability of Caribbean economies, driving employment and revenue generation for many of the states. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, catalysed by travel, drastically debilitated the Caribbean economies, causing significant economic and job losses, disruptions of crucial services and threatened regional health security. The pandemic reiterated the need for the inclusion of health as a critical part of the travel and tourism sector. The Regional Tourism and Health Program (THP), via surveillance and response, capacity building, standards, partnerships, travellers’ health recognition award and mobile app, is crucial for the recovery of the tourism sector by improving the health and safety of Caribbean people, contributing toward strengthened resilience of Caribbean tourism and the sustainability of its economies. The research seeks to highlight the impact that COVID-19 has had on specific industries core to Caribbean tourism, and how these challenges were addressed utilizing the various tools and products created through the THP. Due to COVID-19, the Program has repurposed and expanded many of its tools for a more robust response, to boost travellers’ confidence and re-establish healthier, safer return to travel in the Caribbean. This innovative program, the first global effort of its kind, continues to strive toward bolstering sustainable tourism and health security, lending toward improved economic stability in the Caribbean. Through these tools, 7836 persons were trained, 789 businesses were registered on THP’s land-based visitor surveillance system, 1190 alerts on incoming cruise ships were issued to Member States and 108 tourist facilities were awarded the Healthier, Safer Tourism Stamp. This paper will discuss the tools within the Program and illustrate how the THP can support the Caribbean’s preparedness and response to COVID-19 and other public health threats, and improve the recovery and sustainability of Caribbean tourism.