Page 31 - CAPE Caribbean Studies Study Guide Sample_Neat

Module 2 Issues in Caribbean development

World Cup in 2007, numerous test series and FIFA tournaments have attracted Did you know?
sports fanatics to the region. Several major international sports personalities
come from the Caribbean, such as Usain Bolt and Keshorn Walcott. This has Ecotourism contributes to
brought in millions of dollars in revenues , helped by international media, whose development in the following ways:
coverage helps to attract visitors to the region. Thus the Caribbean region is now
■ it fosters community
an internationally recognised destination for tourists (see 2.27) who want to see
development and provides
the place where these celebrities grew up or possibly even meet them.
alternative sources of income
Ecotourism ■ ecotourism encourages the
preservation of biodiversity,
In Dominica, Belize, Guyana and Suriname the rainforest and the flora and providing economic incentives
fauna provide a conducive enviornment for adventure, particularly for those for those who rely on the regions
who love nature. In many countries reserves and parks are established and this ecology (e.g. fishermen) for their
creates wonderful opportunities for tourists and visitors to view their beauty livelihoods
and splendour.
■ it can increase employment
opportunities and help to raise
Leisure tourism standards of living.

The Caribbean is home to some of the most beautiful hotels and beaches in the
world, and so every year millions of tourists come for vacations and entertainment.
Many other tourists come to witness and participate in festivals and
celebrations that take place at specific times of the year. For example, Reggae
Sumfest in Jamaica, Crop Over in Barbados and Carnival in Trinidad and
Tobago attract large numbers of tourists every year.

Political and social affiliations

In order for the tourism industry to be successful in the region there is a
partnership agreement among CARICOM member states. (See 2.25 for
more on CARICOM.) The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) was
formed to facilitate political arrangements between territories. The CTO
manages the tourism industry in the region, providing technical advice for
countries and also seeking to establish relationships with other countries in
the region with regard to tourism.

CASE STUDY
Many small island developing states such as St Lucia rely heavily on
tourism as a means of generating national income. Tourism in St Lucia
contributes a large part of the country’s GDP and also generates many
employment opportunities in the hotel and hospitality sector. Tourism
forms links with traditional sectors of the economy such as agriculture,
fisheries and even the manufacturing sector. Furthermore, in an attempt
to attract tourists, there have been major infrastructure developments such
as the creation of parks and roads. Work has also been done to rehabilitate
and protect environmentally sensitive areas such as reefs, mangroves and
savannahs. All of these benefit people living in the country. The revenue
earned from tourism is reinvested in the local economy and used to fund
the health and education sector and to provide social services.

Key points

■ Tourism is a major revenue earner for small island developing states.
■ Tourism contributes to the development of the Caribbean in social,
political, economic and environmental ways.

77

852345_Module 2A.indd 77 04/06/2018 11:08