24/05/2020

The Caribbean is heavily depended on tourism and last year the region attracted more than 31 million visitors last year. For some islands, the sector accounts to a colossal two-thirds of gross domestic product.

"Zero tourists means zero income," local excursion operator in Antigua. "My business is 100% dependent on tourists. We're staying positive that things will pick up but I'm not seeing that happening until at least the end of the year," Glen Hector explains.

"If things don't get better I'm really expecting to pack up. I know other small companies who feel the same."

Similarly, in St Lucia, the workforce of Anse Chastanet resort has been cut down from 540 to just 35. The last guest left on 24 March. "It's completely and utterly depressing to be here," says financial controller Stuart McKee.

In Dominica,  5,000 of the island's 72,000 inhabitants are in the tourism sector, says director of tourism Colin Piper.