Antigua and Barbuda. Tourism and the economy

Antigua and Barbuda is an island country lying at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles, just east of St. Christopher and Nevis. The nation consists of three islands: Antigua, Barbuda, and Redonda. Most islanders are descendants of black African slaves, while people of European and mixed ancestry form a small minority.

Antigua and Barbuda has a total population of about 66,500. About 98 percent of the people live on Antigua and 2 percent on Barbuda. When Christopher Columbus discovered Antigua in 1493, the island was inhabited by Carib Indians. The Spaniards killed many of the Caribs and forced others to work in the mines of Hispaniola. British settlers established a colony on Antigua in 1632, and later they also colonized Barbuda and Redonda. All three islands became known as the colony of Antigua.

The British settlers established sugar-cane plantations and brought black African slaves to work on them. After slavery was abolished in 1833, most of the British people began leaving the islands, but the United Kingdom kept control of the colony. In 1967, Antigua became part of the West Indies Associated States and gained control of its internal affairs. On Nov. 1, 1981, it became the independent nation of Antigua and Barbuda.

The island of Barbuda lies north of Antigua and covers 62 square miles (161 square kilometers). Much of the land is a nature preserve, where birds, turtles, and lizards thrive.

Antigua is the largest of the three islands that make up the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. This island country lies about 430 miles (692 kilometers) north of Venezuela and covers 108 square miles (280 square kilometers). About 98 percent of the people live on Antigua, and the remaining 2 percent live on Barbuda. Redonda, the third island in the group, is an uninhabited rocky islet

Tourism and the economy. Tourism is the main economic activity on the islands, and the tourist industry employs most of the people. About 175,000 vacationers visit Antigua and Barbuda every year, in addition to passengers from the numerous cruise ships that stop on the islands. Most of the resorts are owned by foreign hotel chains, which means that profits from tourism generally are taken out of the country. Even so, Antigua and Barbuda is one of the more developed nations of the Third World.

Sugar and cotton production are also important to the economy. However, the government has encouraged farmers to grow a greater variety of crops, which would help reduce the nation's need to import food.

Environment. The islands of Antigua and Barbuda are volcanic in origin, but erosion by wind and rain has worn down the volcanoes, and the islands are now mostly flat. Beautiful white sandy beaches line the coasts. Antigua also has a number of bays and inlets. St. John's, situated on the northwest coast of the island, is the capital and largest city—and a famous port of call for cruise ships.

Barbuda, less developed than Antigua, is mainly a nature preserve. Unlike many islands in the West Indies, Barbuda still has abundant animal life. The island provides a haven for many species of birds, lizards, and turtles. Barbuda also has a large colony of rare frigate birds, and turtles lay their eggs on the beaches. Many kinds of fish swim in the lagoons, which lie within protective coral reefs.