Negative Impacts of Tourism in the Caribbean

Economic Impacts

Cultural Impacts

Economic Pitfalls

Tourists’ demand for local products drive up the prices of goods making them more expensive for local people to afford

Economic Pitfalls

Seasonal nature of tourism creates “boom-bust” cycles– Seasonal breaks during off-season means

workers laid off temporarily– Reverse of multiplier effect– Production is cut, jobs are lost

Economic Pitfalls

Non-diversified economies are particularly susceptible to factors affecting tourism– Rises in travel costs, fuel costs, economic

recessions, infrastructure damage as a result of hurricane activity

Strategies to Control Negative Effects of Tourism

Develop tourism slowly and gradually Limit tourist development to preserve the physical

and cultural environments Support non-tourist jobs in the economy Create tourism-development zones (areas where

tourism development will be allowed) and apply strict controls

Develop building design codes for new tourism facilities

Strategies to Control Negative Effects of Tourism

Give residents equal access to all tourist facilities and amenities

Provide loans for local ownership of tourist facilities Develop strong links between tourism businesses

and local suppliers Plan tourism to avoid overcrowding at facilities that

residents use Provide professional tourism training for local people

Cultural Inundation

If tourism is not carefully planned to balance with local lifestyles, aspects of the tourists’ cultures may change or replace local culture

Demonstration Effect: the impact of tourists’ values and customs on local peoples– Demonstration effect may affect religious

beliefs, dress, music, eating habits, or commercial practices

Cultural Inundation

Cultural Impacts experienced as a result of tourism in the Caribbean:

– Large-scale tourist developments changed rural living patterns

– Seasonal work patterns were created– Traditional skills of some workers were lost– Local art, music, and clothing were commercialized to cater

to tourists– Local properties and areas of natural beauty were

commercialized– Crime levels increased