Contrary to the rest of the Caribbean, tourism here is less than 10% of our GDP. But, I work in tourism and can assure you that our employees enjoy our line of work very much. So does the rest of the industry. I know that the Caribe Hilton used to have a very rotten workers union (like form the 80s - 90s), and their service quality was at government levels (who owned the Hilton and several other hotels), but that has changed a lot. Unions no longer dominate the industry. Mainland chains like Marriott and Starwood now own and run the properties. And then many individual entrepreneurs and small businesses run tours and attractions. Our cruise ship industry is also booming. Tourism has improved a lot and only recently has the rest of the island realized its potential. Previously, all government efforts were directed at promoting manufacturing, which still is the largest chunk of our GDP. Now we are leaning more towards the service industries.
I had read where some drug companies had located there, but were now pulling out. From what you say though, it doesn’t look like tourism will be the business that bails you out. What about the education system? Is it up to the task of properly educating the young? You don’t get out of poverty by staying uneducated. And like Mexico, are the people leaving for the mainland or other countries?