Why are air and sea connections between the Caribbean and North America stronger than many interisland connections?

Air and sea connections between the Caribbean and North America are more developed than interisland connections primarily due to the region's economic structure and its role as a major tourism destination for United States and Canada residents.1

The Caribbean economy is characterized by a monocultural pattern and limited industrial resources, which results in a high volume of trade with countries outside the region rather than between the islands themselves. Because most Caribbean nations lack the industrial capacity to produce a wide variety of goods, they rely on imports from larger, more developed economies. Consequently, markets for primary Caribbean exports—such as bananas, sugar, coffee, and bauxite—are predominantly located in North America.2

Furthermore, the region’s reliance on foreign capital and technology, often driven by multinational corporations, reinforces these external economic ties. This dependency, combined with the Caribbean's status as a primary winter vacation resort area, necessitates robust transportation infrastructure linking the islands to North American hubs to support both commercial trade and the tourism industry.312