The tourism industry has been severely hit in the last couple of years, which has had a serious impact on the economies of many countries.
Those that rely significantly on tourism have been particularly hard hit, with a vast portion of the country’s income drying up almost overnight.
But if you want your next vacation to really do some good to the local economy, where should you go?
To find out, we’ve highlighted the countries where money from tourism makes up the greatest share of the local GDP (gross domestic product), as well as which receive the most money overall from visitors.
Countries that rely on tourism the most
1. Aruba
Tourism contribution to GDP: 27.64%
Tourism contribution to employment: 29.91%
Taking into account both factors, the nation with the heaviest reliance on its tourism trade is Aruba, with tourism accounting for over 25% of the local economy.
Like most of the top-rated countries here, tourism is so popular in Aruba due to its climate, with clear, sunny skies pretty much all year round.
Again, most of these visitors come from North America, with many luxury hotels having been built over the years to entice tourists, especially along the island’s west coast beaches.
2. British Virgin Islands
Tourism contribution to GDP: 32.96%
Tourism contribution to employment: 24.03%
In second are the British Virgin Islands, where tourism directly accounts for around a third of the nation’s overall GDP.
Most of the visitors to the islands come from the USA, including many cruise ship passengers, as well a large number who visit the islands to charter yachts.
3. Maldives
Tourism contribution to GDP: 38.92%
Tourism contribution to employment: 15.74%
While not located in the Caribbean, another island nation takes third place, with tourism making up almost 40% of the local economy in the Maldives.
Until the 1970s, the Maldives were relatively unknown and the local economy was based around fishing, but since then, tourism has taken off in the islands rapidly.
This influx of tourists has turned what was previously a relatively poor nation into one of the most prosperous in South Asia.
The country with the highest tourism GDP
Maldives – 38.92%
Unsurprisingly, many of the countries where tourism is most important to the economy are located in popular island destinations such as the Maldives.
Here, tourism directly brings in over $1bn a year, which is small in comparison to some bigger countries but accounts for almost 40% of the local GDP.
The country with the largest number of tourism workers
Aruba – 29.91% of the workforce
As well as being the country with the second-highest relative income from tourism, Aruba is also the country where tourism accounts for the largest proportion of the workforce, at just under 30%.
Like most of the top-rated countries here, tourism is so popular in Aruba due to its climate, with clear, sunny skies pretty much all year round.
Note: The preceeding was originally published by Bounce. Click here for original article.
