An investigation of different perspectives of sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean, with focus on Jamaica.

Abstract

Tourism is the main economic source in Jamaica and most of the other Caribbean islands, but it comes with its negative impacts. Looking at human development and its sustainable way to do it, Jamaica has lack of social, cultural and environmental benefits. The island relies on its natural resources in order to preserve a long-term tourism product. The economy of the nation is developing mainly because of external investments, which are not healthy as the money becomes an economic leakage and goes back to the investors’ country of origin. It is therefore of vital need that the industry achieves a sustainable tourism development. This research aims to gain a better understanding of the different perspectives of sustainable tourism development. Examining the tourism situation in the Caribbean, with a focus on Jamaica in order to identify what is being done in order to achieve sustainable tourism development and what other improvements. Email interviews were sent to five participants from academia, community members and government staff, as part of a qualitative research to identify different perspectives and understandings of the concept that could be developed. The research highlights the tourism situation in Jamaica regarding sustainability and what the participants along with literature believe is the main need that needs to be done to improve their sustainable tourism development.