Tourism

• Environment simply means the surroundings in which we live
• The physical environment includes things that appear naturally on earth
• Tourists travel on vacation mainly to enjoy the physical environment of the different places they visit
• Tourism has affected the physical environment through:

  • WATER:
  • Release of garbage and sewage into waterways
  • Release of oil from cruise ships
  • Contamination
  • Increase toxicity in water
  • Pollution
  • Changes in reef and tidal patterns
  • VEGETATION:
  • Destruction of trees to build resorts/hotels
  • Destruction of habitat for animals
  • Abuse of forests
  • HUMAN SETTLEMENT:
  • Construction and expansion of hotels/resorts/motels etc.
  • Displacement of persons
  • Traffic congestion
  • Increased pollution
  • Overcrowding
  • Development of shanty towns
  • Unplanned settlements
  • OTHER IMPACT:
  • Loss of potential economic benefits
  • Unavailability of land for agriculture
  • High level of infrastructural development in tourist areas but not the same level in non-tourist areas
• • Aesthetic value
• Caribbean Governments have responded to the negative impact of tourism on the physical environment through:

  • Education
  • Laws
  • Eco-Tourism
  • Conservation Agencies
  • Sustainable Tourism
• How have Caribbean Governments X responded to the negative impact of tourism on the physical environment? Governments have an important role to play in shaping the future development of tourism in a way that promotes growth but also produces maximum benefits. It is important that a long term view is adopted.

   Eco- Tourism  Conservation Agencies

  Laws

  Education

  Sustainable Tourism
• Education-Educational institutions now include in their curricula tourism and its impact on the environment. Students are exposed to the importance of preserving the natural environment. Laws-Caribbean Governments realizing the threat to the natural environment have passed several laws. Examples include the Wild Life Protection Act and the Beach Control Act in Jamaica. Encourages the preservation of the natural environment.

  Eco tourism-Tourists are encouraged to enjoy the local sights in their natural setting. For example, wetlands, forests and historical sights.
• Conservation Agencies-These agencies assist in conservation efforts by educating the general public, providing information and collecting data on environmental resources. They also lobby for laws to be passed to protect the environment 
• Tourism is the activities of people (tourists) travelling to, visiting and staying in places outside their usual environment for leisure, business or other purposes for not more than one consecutive year
• Types of tourism:

  • International Tourism: someone who visits from overseas (e.g., a person from the USA visiting Dominica)
  • Regional Tourism: travel within a region (e.g., someone from Jamaica visiting Aruba)
  • Domestic Tourism: travel within one's home country (e.g., a Trinidadian going to Tobago or a person from Florida visiting New York)
  • Excursionists: visitors to different places in the country they are visiting or living in (e.g., going to visit Maracas or the Museum)
• Tourism Sector:

  • Direct: workers providing services for tourists
  • Indirect: marketing the product (e.g., Hyatt Regency - direct, Bunji Garlin advertising T&T Carnival - indirect)
• Tourism product is the total package and experience which the tourist buys, including accommodation, food, transportation, activities, entertainment, shopping, and other goods & services
• Nature/Eco-Tourism is for watching wildlife (e.g., turtle-watching) or visiting natural attractions (e.g., pitch lake)
• Sports Tourism is for watching or participating in sports (e.g., Cricket World Cup, Football, or sailing)
• Health Tourism is for health treatment or visiting health spas
• Cultural/Heritage Tourism is for visiting historical and cultural events and places (e.g., Carnival, Tobago Jazz Festival, Fort George, Museums)
• Special Events in tourism include conferences (e.g., Caribbean Heads of Government Meeting) or other events like Beauty Pageants (Miss World or Miss Universe)
• Economic linkage is the collaboration between different industries (e.g., tourism & handicraft or tourism & transportation)
• Economic leakage is when revenue from tourism "leaks" out of the country receiving tourists to another country's economy supplying hotels, imported food, etc
• All-inclusive resort or holiday provides most services within the price, including transportation, accommodation, meals, beverages & entertainment
• Time-share Tourism is accommodation part-owned by different people who take turns staying there
• Marketing Tourism is about identifying and satisfying tourists' needs and wants to encourage them to buy products
• Home porting is when cruise ships are permanently based in a main port and take visitors to and from that port for their holiday
• Host & Supply Countries: the country visited is the host country, and the home country where tourists came from is the supply country
• Reasons for travel include recreation, sightseeing, shopping, health, education, business, cultural or heritage events/activities, and visiting family and friends
• Factors why tourists choose the Caribbean:

  • Tropical Climate
  • Physical Features like beaches, cliffs, volcanic craters, caves, reefs, springs
  • Exotic Flora & Fauna
  • Unique Festivals like Carnival, Crop-over, Junkanoo, Jazz Festival
  • Sports like Cricket, Football, Diving, Golf
  • Exhibitions, Conferences, Religious Activities
• Problems that deter tourists include crime, natural disasters, terrorism, war, social & infrastructure problems, political unrest, harassment, unwelcoming behavior, availability/cost/quality of tourist services, environmental problems, and accessibility
• Challenges facing the tourism industry in the Caribbean region:

  • Re-entry of other islands in the tourism arena
  • Need to increase room accommodations and upgrade facilities
  • Need for trained personnel and skilled technicians
  • Promote careers within the tourist sector from an early age
  • Expand public utilities and improve income levels of tourists
• Negative effects of tourism on the environment:

  • Damage to coral reefs
  • Improper disposal of sewage
  • Pollution of beaches
  • Depletion of fishes
  • Beach erosion
  • Crime like human trafficking, drug trafficking, etc
• Government policies influencing tourism include meeting infrastructure requirements, providing a well-trained workforce, addressing environmental concerns, social problems, creating a favorable investment climate, and overseas marketing and promotional presence in key markets
• Supportive services for tourism involve Hotel Associations, Tourist Boards, Ministry of Tourism, Caribbean Tourism Organisation, and Hospitality Schools
• Role of Donor Agencies in tourism: Caribbean Development Bank, European Union, Organisation of American States, Canadian Inter-Development Agencies
• Promoting regional co-operation & integration through tourism includes e-ticketing, internet booking, information gathering, advertising, and feedback
• Impact of communications technology on the tourism industry
• Definition of Tourism: the activities of people (tourists) travelling to, visiting and staying in places outside their usual environment for leisure, business or other purposes for not more than one consecutive year
• Types of Tourism:

  • International Tourism: someone who visits a country from overseas
  • Regional Tourism: travel within a region
  • Domestic Tourism: travel within one's home country
  • Excursionists: visitors to different places in the country they are visiting or living in
• Tourism Sector:

  • Direct: workers providing services for tourists
  • Indirect: workers marketing the tourism product
• Nature/Eco-Tourism: tourism for watching wildlife or visiting natural attractions

  • Sports Tourism: for watching or participating in sports
  • Health Tourism: for health treatment or visiting health spas
  • Cultural/Heritage Tourism: to visit historical and cultural events and places
• Economic linkage: collaboration between different industries

  • Economic leakage: revenue from tourism leaking out of the country to another country's economy
  • All-inclusive resort: holiday where most services are provided within the price
  • Time-share Tourism: accommodation part-owned by different people who take turns staying