Full Caribbean Tourism and Infrastructure Recovery Report

Several Caribbean travel destinations struck by Hurricane Irma are resuming operations in relatively quick fashion while others will struggle for weeks to resume travel-related activities critical to their economies.

In a fortunate stroke, the region appears to have avoided a follow-up blow from Hurricane Jose, which seemed headed for the Caribbean last week but has since shifted northeast of the Bahamas and does not pose a threat.

Meanwhile, international governments and tourism organizations are responding to the destruction in several destinations, providing assistance to stranded vacationers and coordinating recovery efforts.

[CALLOUT]

Irma dealt her worst blows to several of the Caribbean's Leeward Islands. While 22 of the 27 islands tracked by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) escaped serious damage, five-Anguilla, Barbuda, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands and Sint Maarten-were heavily impacted and are in various stages of recovery.

The dual-nation island of Sint Maarten is receiving aid from the Netherlands and France as residents work to clear widespread damage such as collapsed buildings, downed trees and debris-strewn streets on both the Dutch and French sides of the island.

Princess Juliana International Airport has been receiving flights to deliver relief supplies and evacuating guests, but the facility remains closed to the public.

Virtually all of the island's signature hotel properties, including the Beach Plaza, Hotel Mercure, Oyster Bay Beach Resort, Riu Palace St. Martin, Sonesta Maho Beach Resort Casino & Spa, Sonesta Ocean Point Resort, Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino and Westin Dawn Beach, suffered significant damage and remain closed.

More than 1,200 American tourists were evacuated Saturday from Sint Maarten-the Dutch side of Saint Martin-with the help of the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Defense Department, the AP reported.

The U.S. government is also sending a flight to evacuate stranded citizens from St. Martin, the AP reported. Sunwing Airlines evacuated other travelers stranded by the storm to Montreal, said Rolando Brison, St. Maarten's director of tourism.

Tourism organizations are teaming up to provide recovery avenues for the impacted destinations. The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has activated its Relief Fund through GoFundMe to help families and countries rebuild after hurricanes.

Donations will be sent directly to CTO-member destinations affected by Irma.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association and Tourism Cares have launched a Caribbean Hurricane Tourism Recovery Fund. The program will focus on affected communities and organizations in need of projects, including physical restoration of damaged attractions such as historical monuments, beaches or open spaces and visitor centers.

[READMORE]READ MORE: Irma's Final Stand in the Southeast US[/READMORE]

Anguilla Seeking Recovery

In Anguilla, residents "are moving swiftly to rebuild, buoyed by an outpouring of support from friends and family, stakeholders, past and current visitors and trade partners," according to an Anguilla Tourist Board statement.

Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport is open "from sunrise to sunset" for charter and emergency flights. Anguilla's governor and chief minister "are continuing to assess the damage, identify priorities," coordinating response through Anguilla's National Emergency Operations Center.

The U.K. government is providing food, water, medical supplies and technical support to Anguilla. Community volunteers have launched a clean-up campaign and established debris collection centers around the island.

The CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa and adjacent sister property-The Reef by CuisinArt-are among the best-known Anguilla resort properties and were both "significantly affected." Engineers are currently assessing the damage.

"Ownership and management are steadfastly committed to restoring, rebuilding and reopening," said company officials.

Other Anguilla hotels, including the Carimar Beach Club, CeBlue Villas & Beach Resort (which had been closed for the season) and Malliouhana suffered damage but remain structurally sound.

British Virgin Islands

An assessment of the full scope of damage on the British Virgin Islands-which Sharon Flax-Brutus, B.V.I.'s director of tourism, described as "devastating"-has yet to be fully measured. The island's government has started to coordinate humanitarian relief efforts and an initial clean-up; The UK government is also sending relief and support.

The Bitter End Yacht Club-a popular B.V.I. resort-was in the midst of an annual closure during the storm and the resort's ground crew is reported safe. Video of the site that went viral during the height of the storm shows significant damage to resort buildings.

Rosewood Little Dix Bay-the largest B.V.I. property-was closed for renovation during Irma's passage. The hotel's management team was relocated prior to the storm.

Antigua & Barbuda

With fewer than 100 hotel rooms, the overall effect on tourism in Barbuda, the smaller of the twin island nation is minimal, government officials said.

Nevertheless, the island sustained tremendous damage, leading Gaston Browne, the country's prime minister, to issue a mandatory evacuation order for Barbuda on September 8. Three Amerijet cargo planes have delivered relief supplies to Antigua this week.

An initial review of the Sandals Grande Antigua resort showed "superficial damage." A complete assessment will take place "as soon as possible," said a spokesperson. The resort will remain closed through December 20 "due to the impact of Irma and the close proximity to the previously announced closure for resort maintenance," she added.

[READMORE]READ MORE: A Tale of Survival from Barbuda[/READMORE]

Turks & Caicos

Extreme winds, heavy rainfall and intense storm surge from Irma pummeled the Turks & Caicos, producing flooding and damage to roofs, property and landscaping. The storm also cut much of the island's electrical power.

The country's Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) is "conducting assessments throughout the islands," and Providenciales International Airport is open for emergency services only.

"All government and local relief agencies are working together to ensure that services are returned to normal as soon as possible," said officials in a statement. Telecommunications services and electricity "are returning [and] essential services and relief supplies are coming in" said Ramon Andrews, the Turks and Caicos' director of tourism in a radio address.

Island hotels are a mixed bag.

Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa, Gansevoort Turks & Caicos, Ocean Club Resorts, the Seven Stars Resort and Villa Del Mar are among the properties reporting all guests as safe, although the properties do not yet have electrical power or water service.

Beaches Turks & Caicos will not accept new arrivals until a thorough assessment of the property is completed, said a spokesperson.

U.S. Virgin Islands

A full assessment of Irma's impact on St. Thomas and St. John are underway as only St. Croix escaped significant damage. Four deaths due to the storm were reported on St. Thomas, and visitors are being encouraged not to visit there or St. John at this time.

Communication in the territory remains limited, and "there is significant damage to infrastructure in St. Thomas and St. John," said Beverly Nicholson-Doty, the U.S. Virgin Islands' commissioner of tourism. St Thomas' Cyril E. King Airport remains closed to commercial traffic.

Of the territory's resort properties, Caneel Bay on St. John suffered a complete power outage. The Westin St. John Resort Villas reported all guests safe amidst "some damage" while the Bluebeard's Castle Resort on St. Thomas sustained major damage but reported all guests safe.

Officials are assessing damage at the Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort and Ritz-Carlton on St. Thomas as well as at the Westin, St. John, all of which remain closed until further notice.

The Bahamas

Irma largely spared the Bahamas significant damage. Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau is open and international flights are beginning to return to the territory. The Port of Nassau is open with cruise ships are expected to arrive on September 13.

Hotels and resorts including Atlantis, Paradise Island, Sandals Royal Bahamian, Warwick Paradise Island, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Melia Nassau Beach Resort and the Sandals Emerald Bay on Great Exuma open and accommodating guests.

---

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore