The reports coming out of the Caribbean after the terrible hurricanes damaged so many island have been often lacking in concrete details that tell a clear story. We know Dominica, Barbuda, St. Martin, The BVI, USVI and Puerto Rico were devastated but how are these islands now? Check out this report from The New York Times. It was published in the paper’s Travel section but it applies to cruisers and sailors, too.
After an unforgiving start to the hurricane season, some idyllic Caribbean destinations are in the midst of a slow and arduous recovery that may take months, even years, while others are ready — or nearly ready — for the all-important holiday travel season.
In September, two of the most powerful Atlantic basin storms ever recorded left places — among them, Dominica, Puerto Rico, Barbuda, St. Martin and the U.S. Virgin Islands — in ruins. Homes and infrastructure were destroyed, leaving people without power, clean water and essential services.
Tourism is the most important economic driver for the region, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization, but in certain places ongoing relief efforts amid power outages and medical crises continue to be the priority. Read more.
