Pros and Con of Caribbean Tourism

Tourism is one of the fastest growing and most heterogeneous industries in the world. It is vital to the survival of many Caribbean islands as it is the pillar of their economy because it provides a vast amount of employment opportunities for locals as well as constantly pumps foreign investment and expenditure into the region, among other benefits which will be highlighted. However, like most actions in life, there are pros and cons, tourism is no different. It is a very controversial topic because on one hand it helps sustain economies but, on another it negatively impacts on the natural environment and culture of the region. This leads to the big question that has been asked many times, “Is tourism worth it?” This essay seeks to answer that question by critically analyzing a statement made by King, LeBlanc and Lowe (2000) in which they stated that, “critics believe the benefits of tourism are outweighed by the negative impacts the industry on the Caribbean.”

Tourism is a very complex issue and before we can begin to analyze the varying impacts it as on the region, we must first understand exactly what tourism is. Tourism has many definitions, according to Goeldner & Ritchie, “tourism is the processes, activities and outcomes arising from the relationships and the interactions among tourists, tourism suppliers, host government, host communities and surrounding environments that are involved in the attracting and hosting of visitors.” It can be classified into three types; domestic, that is, within the boundaries of one country. Regional, which refers to travel within a set geographical location or international which is travel from one country to another in a different geographical location. Contrary to popular believe, domestic tourism is the most dominant of the three forms as it accounts for about 80% of tourist trips worldwide, but with regards to the Caribbean, it is international tourism that is dominant and most beneficial to the region.

The Caribbean is