Tourism in the Caribbean

The travel and tourism industry is one of the world's largest industries and is a significant growth area in the developing countries of the Caribbean. The Bahamas, Costa Rica, Mexico, Barbados and Jamaica have become major players in the tourism industry. The growth rate while welcome in economic terms has also brought associated problems. Throughout the region tourism development has led to local discontent, rising land prices and environmental problems. It seems that to a large degree the traditional tourism development model pursued in many developing countries is flawed. Tourism has been treated as an end in itself, instead of a mechanism for development. This book persuasively argues that tourism development, like other forms of development, should be a process in which the interests of the local population are primary. The articles are written in English or Spanish and are accessible to a wide audience of students, policymakers, tourism and hospitality sectors.