ABSTRACT
Bonaire Island in the Netherlands Antilles, like many other Caribbean islands, relies on tourism for much of its income and a major part of its tourism-related earning comes from the diving industry. In 1990 Caribbean tourism generated US$8.9 billion and employed over 350,000 people, an increase from US$5 billion and 300,000 employed in 1985 (Dixon et al, 1993). Dive-based tourism has experienced a rapid increase and in many Caribbean states contributes 15 per cent to 30 per cent of GDP. Direct and indirect revenues from dive-related tourism on Bonaire were calculated at US$23.2 million in 1991. Although not directly comparable, the island's GDP in 1985 (the last year of available statistics) was calculated to be about US$44 million.
