Influences of extra-regional societies on the Caribbean

TOURISM

What is Tourism?• Tourism is an activity done by an individual or a

group of individuals which leads to a motion from one place to another. Also, from a country to another for performing a specific task, or it is to visit a place or several places in the purpose of entertainment which leads to an awareness of other civilizations and cultures, also increasing the knowledge of countries, cultures, and history.

• Tourism is by nature an industry that encourages dependency. Today it is largely the tastes and interests of the foreigner that dictate what type of tourism product will be promoted. It is the finance and expertise of foreign companies that have developed the Caribbean tourist industry.

•Tourists in the Caribbean come mainly from North America and Europe. Therefore any recession in the economies of these countries will directly impact the Caribbean. This is because a lot of the Caribbean countries earn foreign revenue from tourism.

Different types of tourism Caribbean countries have developed different kinds of

tourist attractions to accommodate their clienteles. Some are:

• Ecotourism- In Dominica, Belize, Guyana and Suriname, the rainforests, and their flora and fauna cater for nature lovers (people interested in bird watching). The Mountain Pine Ridge in Belize and coral reefs are also popular.

• Adventure Tourism- Guyana and Suriname, the great rivers offer white water rafting and canoeing. Hunting is growing in Dominica and mountain climbing in St. Lucia.

• Sports Tourism- Sea sports: surfing, kite boarding, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and powerboat racing. There is the Grenada Yacht Club Race, The Spring Regatta of St. Maarten and the Blue Marlin Competition in Curacao.

• Health Tourism- this is where people come to bathe in mineral-charged waters thought to be good for various ailments. They are found in volcanic areas. Example: Jamaica, St. Lucia, Dominica and Montserrat where there are many hot springs.

• Festival Tourism- Carnivals such as kadooment in Barbados, the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, St. Kitts music festival, Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica, and Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago.

• Cruiseship Tourism- Caribbean countries have constructed docking facilities for major cruise ships lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Princess. Each vessel carries approximately 2000 tourists, a large source of foreign exchange.

•At present, tourism is one of the world’s largest industries and for developing countries it is also one of the biggest income generators. Especially in the Caribbean region, it has both a positive and negative impacts on the local economy, social life and environment.

Positive impacts of tourism• Foreign exchange earnings- tourism creates

jobs, both through direct employment within the tourism industry and indirectly in sectors such as retail and transportation. The tourism industry also provides opportunities for small-scale business enterprises, which is especially important in rural communities, and generates extra tax revenues, such as airport and hotel taxes, which can be used for schools, housing and hospitals.

• Infrastructural developments- in the Caribbean countries, the government would establish better roads, water supplies, services, such as hotels to accommodate the tourists arrival. Hence making the economy better.

• Understanding and appreciating of other cultures- tourism encourages the preservation of traditional customs, handicrafts and festivals that might otherwise have been forgotten, and it creates civic pride. Interchanges between hosts and guests create a better cultural understanding and can also help raise global awareness of issues such as poverty and human rights abuses.

• More attention for our own environment- particularly nature and ecotourism -helps promote conservation of wildlife and natural resources such as rain forests, as these are now regarded as tourism assets. It also helps generate funding for maintaining animal preserves and marine parks through entrance charges and guide fees. By creating alternative sources of employment, tourism reduces problems such as over-fishing and deforestation in developing nations.

Negative impacts of tourism • Environmental pollution- tourism leads to a lot of

damage to the Caribbean beaches, the coral reefs, erosion through hotel constructions, prejudice and a lot of tourists may gain landownership in the Caribbean. Also, cruise ships sailing through the Caribbean dump waste into the sea, including oil residues, harms marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs.

• Prostitution- in Dominican Republic, prostitution is legal and there are a number of resorts that cater to (male) tourists with the offer of willing female companionship along with a pool, beach bar, and other amenities. Prostitution is encouraged in certain Caribbean countries due to tourism.

• Drug trafficking- drug trafficking is easier done in the Caribbean islands due to the lack of more developed technologies, training and resources to combat the drug trade. Hence tourists may come to the Caribbean to engage in matters such as drug trafficking and money laundering.

• Water resources-Tourism makes huge demands on the Caribbean's water resources that is used for drinking, cooking, washing, swimming pools and air conditioning, reducing the volume of water available to local people.

• Employment- while tourism is a major employer throughout the region, many of these jobs are seasonal and very low-paid, while the money generated by internationally funded projects fails to reach locals.