Economic Significance of Tourism in The Lesser Antilles

The objective of the article is an attempt to assess the economic significance of tourism in chosen islands of the Lesser Antilles. Diversification of the significance of tourism in economy between particular islands of the Lesser Antilles is very extensive. The economy of islands such as the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda is highly dependent on tourism. On the other hand, islands such as Martinique and Curaçao derive small profits from tourism. The tourism satellite account method was used to show to what a degree each of the Lesser Antilles islands is dependent on tourism and what profits are derived from it. The account considers both direct and indirect outlays on tourism. The selected countries are divided into groups according to the intensity of tourism, the size of the GDP generated per one inhabitant as well as the share of employment in tourism per total employment. A group of countries and dependent territories deriving greater and lesser economic benefits from tourism than might appear from the intensity of tourism is identified.