Public Health Is the Foundation of Caribbean Tourism
Tourism is one of the Caribbean’s largest economic drivers. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) describes the Caribbean as the world’s most tourism-dependent region. Public health and a healthy Caribbean community is not separate from tourism – it helps makes tourism possible. A healthy tourism industry supports local jobs, businesses, economic development, and quality of life throughout the Caribbean. Public health protects residents, visitors, and the tourism industry itself. A travel destination is only as attractive as it is safe, leading to health security being a cornerstone for safe and sustainable tourism.1
A recent renewed agreement in July of 2026 has been made between CARPHA and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to strengthen travelers’ health for a more resilient, economically sustainable Eastern Caribbean. The media release for this agreement included some important statements regarding the importance of public health and sustainable tourism in the Caribbean. “When we strengthen surveillance, raise health and safety standards, and build capacity across our Member States, we are not choosing between protecting our people and protecting our economy; we are doing both with a single instrument.” They also stated powerfully that, “through this agreement, CARPHA and the OECS Commission commit to a simple but powerful chain of real outcomes, strengthened travers’ health delivers healthier safer tourism; healthier, safer tourism builds a more resilient, competitive and marketable OECS destinations; and a resilient tourism sector secures the economic sustainability of the OECS sub-region.”2
Protecting millions of travelers and Caribbean residents requires far more than hospitals and medical clinics. It depends on coordinated public health systems working quietly behind the scenes every day.
How CARPHA Helps Keep the Caribbean Healthy
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has developed the Caribbean Tourism and Health Program that aims to “ensure the health and safety of our visitors and locals”. This is the first integrated program of its kind, setting an internation precedent for improving sustainable tourism and regional health security. CARPHA asserts that enhanced, safe, and sustainable tourism is essential for promoting economic development, poverty eradication and improvement of quality of life in small islands developing tourism dependent states as found in the Caribbean region.2
Rather than responding only after outbreaks occur, CARPHA’s Tourism and Health Program emphasizes prevention, preparedness, and early response. Major public health threats currently being monitored and being prepared for include worldwide pandemics like COVID-19, mosquito-borne illnesses, and threats to the food and beverage industry in the Caribbean. Using real-time early warning and response to tourism and health information systems, this program issues regional and traveler guidelines for industries like airlines, hospitals and health centers, hotels, government agencies, laboratories, and general media. The CARPHA program, however, aims to focus on prevention rather than reaction in order to help protect public health. Through individual guidelines to health and tourism officials, tourism accommodations, and travelers, CARPHA sets standards for mosquito-borne illness prevention.2
Guidelines for Health and Tourism Officials: Keeping the Caribbean Region Safe for Residents and Visitors
- Communicate prevention and protection measures against mosquito bites including: use mosquito repellent, cover or empty water vessels around the home, stay in rooms with air-conditioning or screened windows/doors or use bed nets
- Encourage health officials at ports of entry to report suspected cases to the Ministry of Health
- Encourage health professionals to stay vigilant and report suspected cases of arboviral (insect-borne) infection to the Ministry of Health
- Everyone can help by reporting arboviral illnesses at: http://this.carpha.org
- Environment: practice source reduction by cleaning up potential breeding environments, properly dispose of used tires, and use appropriate vector control measures2
Guidelines for Tourist Accommodations:
- Common symptoms of tropical mosquito illness like Dengue, Zika, or Chikungunya include: fever, rash muscle and joint pain.
- Guest or staff feeling ill? Report the suspected case at http://this.carpha.org. Guide them to a health facility
- What can you do to prevent mosquito bites:
- Control mosquito breeding on property: empty or cover any vessel containing stagnant water and keep your premises clean
- Work with communities in close proximity to tourist accommodations to control mosquito breeding
- Install screens in doors and windows. Provide air-conditioning, fans or bed nets
- Provide insect repellent containing either: DEET, picaridin, IR3535®, or oil of lemon eucalyptus2
Guidelines for Travelers:
- Common symptoms of tropical mosquito illness like Dengue, Zika, or Chikungunya include: fever, rash muscle and joint pain.
- Break the Transmission Cycle!
- Protect Yourself and Others:
- Use insect repellent containing either: DEET, picaridin, IR3535®, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Apply sunscreen first, then repellent
- Stay in rooms with air-conditioning or screened windows/doors, or use bed nets
- Minimize skin exposure
- Report any mosquito infestation or breeding sites to management
- Pregnant women should be extra vigilant and avoid being bitten
- Feeling ill? Stay hydrated and consult a doctor2
While governments and tourism organizations coordinate regional health efforts, protecting public health also depends on thousands of everyday actions taken by businesses, communities, residents, and travelers. Among all of these recommendations, one simple step appears consistently throughout CARPHA’s guidance: everyone has a role in protecting against mosquito bites.
IMPEDE Supports Healthier Caribbean Communities
The proper use of insect repellent is the best way to prevent mosquito bites, and is the most consistent guidance for travelers, tourist accommodations, and public health officials by CARPHA. By making personal protection part of everyday life, residents and visitors alike can help reduce mosquito exposure while supporting the Caribbean’s broader public health efforts.
CARPHA specifically recommends insect repellents containing IR3535®, DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus as part of it traveler and accommodation guidance. IMPEDE, designed specifically for the Caribbean, uses IR3535® as its active ingredient for mosquito bite prevention. By choosing an insect repellent, like IMPEDE, that aligns with regional public health recommendations gives travelers and residents greater confidence in their protection. IMPEDE was developed for the realities of Caribbean living: long days outdoors, high temperatures, high humidity, beach days, boating, exploring nature, outdoor dining, community festivals, and everyday outdoor routines. Because consistent insect protection is one of CARPHA’s key recommendations, IMPEDE was designed to make that recommendation easier to follow. Providing up to 14 hours of protection by using the patented controlled-release technology, STAYTEC™, IMPEDE reduces the need for frequent reapplication and helps users maintain protection throughout the day.
In addition to providing long-lasting protection, IMPEDE is a lightweight, lotion-based repellent that is both sweat- and water-resistant. The hypoallergenic formula is both safe for sensitive skin, and safe for the environment and aquatic life. By using the active ingredient IR3535®, a nature-inspired ingredient with a long-established safety profile, IMPEDE is suitable for use for pregnant women and children as young as 2 months old. IMPEDE is formulated for everyone, whether you reside in the Caribbean or experiencing these destinations as a visitor. Available through local retailers across the Caribbean, IMPEDE makes it easy for both residents and visitors to follow the personal protection guidance recommended by regional public health authorities.
Protecting yourself from mosquito bites is more than a personal decision – it is one small contribution to the health of the communities you visit and call home. Public health succeeds when everyone participates. Governments provide leadership, residents enjoy healthier communities, businesses gain a stronger tourism industry, and visitors experience safer, more enjoyable destinations. When individuals choose effective insect protection as part of their daily routine, they support the broader public health efforts that help keep Caribbean destinations safe, welcoming, and resilient. Together, these everyday choices contribute to healthier people, healthier tourism, and a stronger Caribbean. Protect yourself. Protect the destination.