An archipelago of 60 Caribbean islands, 15 of them inhabited, the British
Virgin Islands lie at the northwestern end of the Leeward islands chain.
Tourism, now a major economic activity, is suited to the tropical climate,
but there is concern about its effect on the environment. There are
also fears that traditional place-names are being altered to be more
tourist-friendly. The offshore finance sector is important, and has
been more tightly regulated since 1990, following scandals involving
foreign companies registered in the territory.
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