Bon Voyage? Tourism and Development in the Caribbean The Case of Barbados
Date of Award
2011
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Hicks, Barbara
Keywords
Tourism, Caribbean, Development
Area of Concentration
International and Area Studies
Abstract
International tourism has become a significant economic sector for many developing countries, and its potential to contribute to national development has become the subject of recent development literature. Due to the increased advocacy by international organizations and national governments to adopt tourism as a development strategy, it is important to examine how tourism has affected past development endeavors before prescribing the tourism treatment to other developing countries. This thesis examines the divergent development experience of two Caribbean islands�Barbados and Jamaica�to examine how the recent development of mass tourism has affected each island�s quest for economic growth and development. It concludes that the ability for tourism to serve as a factor in development is ambiguous at best, due to the complex and extensive economic, social, environmental, and cultural changes that the industry will generate without regulation. In order for tourism to serve as a factor in development, strategic public planning and regulation is critical. Furthermore, of the factors explaining the divergent development between Barbados and Jamaica, determinants such as history, geography, or resource endowments may have all influenced development outcomes, but proficient policy and social cohesion are truly the determining factors of Barbados� development success that were lacking in Jamaica.
Recommended Citation
Whalen, Nicole, "Bon Voyage? Tourism and Development in the Caribbean The Case of Barbados" (2011). Theses & ETDs. 4478.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/4478
Rights
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