Tourism in the Caribbean

Session Objectives
 Define key terms
 Identify why tourists travel
 Identify the different tourism products in the
Caribbean
 Discuss factors that facilitate tourism in both
host and supply countries
 Assess the benefits of tourism to the Caribbean
 Discuss the negative effects of tourism in the
Caribbean
 Who is a tourist?

A tourist is someone who leaves his/her

regular place of abode for varying reasons for
a period of atleast 24 hours but under one year.
 Reasons why People Travel

Business
Purpose of travel cont’d

Medical

Education
Leisure
 Other Reasons Include:

 Religious Functions
 Conference
 To visit families and friends
 To attend functions such as weddings,
graduations, funerals etc.
 Vacation
 Types of Tourists

Domestic
Regional
Travels within own country and
Travels within the geographic
spends atleast one night away
region eg. Caribbean
from home

Excursionist
International Spends less than 24 hours at a
Travels outside of the destination and sleeps off the
geographical region destination for example a cruise
passenger
 Tourism Products in the Caribbean
This is all facilities and amenities both man-made
and natural which provides tourist with a variety of
Eco-Tourism
experiences Sports
Sun, beaches, Sailing, diving,
flora and fauna cricket

Culture Heritage
Food, music, Historical sites,
festivals museums etc.
 New Tourism Product

Sports •Tourists come to participate in different

events
Tourism •Travels to watch their favourite sports

•Travels to attend events such as Jazz Festival, Reggae

Entertainment Sumfest
•Attends special functions be it business or religious
Tourism related

Eco- •Travel to observe nature

Tourism •To study wild life species
Tourist Arrivals to the Caribbean by
Major Markets in 2000

Caribbean
7%
Europe Canada
26% 6%

Other
11%

United States
50%
Factors that Contribute to Tourism in the
Caribbean
 Location and accessibility
 Climate
 Exchange rate
 Good Infrastructure
 Rich natural attractions, culture and history
 Political stability and safety
 Competitive tourist package (accommodation,
air travel, amenities)
 Sanitation and health
Factors that Contribute to Tourism in the
Supply Countries
 Exchange rate
 Climate
 Higher income
 Marketing of the region
 Accessibility
 Economic Benefits of Tourism
Caribbean received US$ 19.6 billion in 2000
from Tourism
Tourism Receipts US$ million

Montserrat 9.0
Anguilla 56.6 Cozumel 349.8
Netherlands Antilles 482.4
Antigua & Barbuda 290.1 Cuba 1,857.0
St. Kitts/Nevis 58.2
Aruba 638.0 Curacao 226.5
St Lucia 276.7
Bahamas 1,814.0 Dominica 47.2
St. Vincent 75.3
Barbados 718.5 Dominican Rep. 2,860.2
Suriname 44.0
Belize 121.1 Grenada 70.2
T&T 212.8
Bermuda 431.0 Guadeloupe e400.2*
Turks & Caicos 238.0*
Bonaire 55.8 Guyana 59.0*
USVI 1,156.8
BVI 315.1 Haiti 54.0
Puerto Rico 2,387.9
Cancun 1,996.0 Jamaica 1,333.0
Venezuela 1,197.2
 Importance of Tourism to
Caribbean Economies
Visitor Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP
Anguilla - 75%
Cayman Islands - 60%
St. Lucia - 55%
Antigua & Barbuda - 49%
Aruba - 41%
Barbados - 36%
St. Kitts & Nevis - - 31%
Grenada - 28%
St. Vincent & G’dines - 28%
Jamaica - 25%
 Other Benefits of Tourism

Development
Appreciation
Job Creation of
of culture
infrastructure
 Problems of Tourism in the Caribbean

Increase in imports to cater to the needs of tourists

Erasure of cultural values

Droughts, Floods and Landslides

Damage to coastal infrastructure

Destruction of natural vegetation

Problems of Tourism in the Caribbean Cont’d

• Tourism can cause the same forms of

pollution as any other industry:

 Air emissions
 Noise
 Solid waste and littering
 Releases of sewage
 Oil and chemicals
 Challenges to Caribbean Tourism

 Diminished economic growth in many of our source

market
 Reduced profitability of airlines
 More countries seriously adopting tourism as a viable
development option
 Increased leisure travel options within our major markets
 Changing Consumer Patterns
 Changing distribution systems
 Challenges to Caribbean Tourism Cont’d

 Growing Competition – Product

Higher levels of service outside Caribbean
Freer cross-border travel (notably Europe)
Huge growth in cruise ship inventory and cruising
destination
Better scheduled airlift to other regions
Lack of investment and innovation in product
development in the region
 Government’s Role in Tourism
 Establish tourism organization to develop
policies and guidelines for tourism
 Assists in marketing the destination
 Promote political stability in order to encourage
investments
 Provide infrastructure which the industry needs
 Control the level of crime
 Establish training facilities and programmes for
tourist workers
• develops policies for the sector, modify Ministry of
initiatives to meet challenges etc. Tourism
Caribbean
• maintains a database for of accommodation Hotel
in the region, granting of scholarships etc Association
Caribbean
• promotes the Caribbean to the world, Tourism
maintain tourism information system etc Organization
Tourism Organizations
 TOURISM & TECHNOLOGY
 The digital era has touched all walks of life
including tourism. Infact it has numerous
effects:
 1. Add a new dynamics to marketing especially
as it relates to visual effects
 2. Make bookings for air travel,
accommodation and vacation activities easier
 3. Job search and application easier
 4. Gather and generate information faster and
easier
 SELF-TEST QUESTIONS
TOURISM 

Read the extract below and then answer the

question which follows.  

Jason: Have you seen the latest video survey?

Brant: Yes, it shows an increase in crime
against visitors. This cannot be good for our
country.
SELF-TEST QUESTION CONT’D
 As president of The Caribbean Hotel Association,
prepare a speech for a conference on The
Relationship Between Tourists and Residents.  In
your speech, describe TWO negative behaviours
which some residents may direct towards visitors
and give TWO reasons why it is necessary to
improve visitor-resident relationships.  Suggest
THREE actions that community groups may take
to improve relationships between residents and
visitors to the country. State why EACH action is
likely to be successful.