What to Know Before Visiting a Disaster-Stricken Destination

With hurricanes hitting much of the Caribbean this past year, many travelers find themselves wondering if they should even consider the Caribbean for vacation, whether now or even a few months past. There’s the question of whether or not it’s really ethical, and if the destination even has the capability to accept travelers.

The general consensus of many travel professionals is that, in many cases, disaster-stricken destinations, such as the islands of the Caribbean, rely on tourism for their economy. To completely abandon these destinations can spell out economic woe. However, there is a certain waiting period that needs to occur before travel commences.

Responsible Vacation recommends talking to a local travel expert to see if the region and time period of your travel plans will be suitable for the destination. Even if it isn’t possible to visit right now, they can tell you when you’ll likely be welcomed. Likewise, sometimes a disaster will hit one portion of a destination, while the other portion is in need of your tourism dollars.

In fact, Responsible Vacation notes there are some destinations, even two or three years after a disaster, struggling to regain their tourism income because of the belief tourists are not welcomed nor that the destination can accommodate travelers. The brand specifically names Haiti, Nepal and Dominica.

The main thing to remember — keep the needs of locals in mind when you book, and rely on trusted advice from experts in the region.