Tourism is now the Caribbean's most important industry. Many people work in tourism and there are college courses which give training for, these jobs. Luxury resorts, hotels and guest houses cover the coastlines of the islands. Inland, it is a different story. Small wooden houses, without electricity or running water, are still common. Tourists can shower as often as they like, while the local village people have to carry their water from a public tap. Local residents are often not allowed to use the beaches in an attempt to protect the foreign visitors from 'higglers and hawkers' (people trying to sell things). There are not enough jobs in tourism, and unemployment is a major problem on most islands. Urban crime rates are high in places like Kingston, Port of Spain and San Juan (Puerto Rico), and made worse by drug-related problems. Housing is poor and the slum areas are usually the first to be destroyed by hurricanes.   “In the English Speaking World”