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Last Resorts: The Cost of Tourism in the Caribbean
The Caribbean has the fortune--and the misfortune̬to be everyone's idea of a tropical paradise. Its sun, sand and scenery attract millions of visitors each year and make it a profitable destination for the world's fastest growing industry. Tourism is increasingly touted as its only hope of creating jobs and wealth--literally, the island's last resort.
Last Resorts examines the real impact of tourism on the people and landscape of the Caribbean. It explores the structure of ownership of the industry and shows that the benefits it brings to the region do not live up to its claims. New developments in ecotourism, sex tourism, and the burgeoning cruise industry are not changing this pattern of short-term exploitation of the region's resources. The book shows how Caribbean societies are corrupted by tourism and its culture turned into floorshow parody.
This new edition has been extensively revised and updated. It gives voice to people inside the tourism industry, its critics, and tourists themselves, and offers vital insights into a phenomenon that is central to the globalized world of today.
Last Resorts examines the real impact of tourism on the people and landscape of the Caribbean. It explores the structure of ownership of the industry and shows that the benefits it brings to the region do not live up to its claims. New developments in ecotourism, sex tourism, and the burgeoning cruise industry are not changing this pattern of short-term exploitation of the region's resources. The book shows how Caribbean societies are corrupted by tourism and its culture turned into floorshow parody.
This new edition has been extensively revised and updated. It gives voice to people inside the tourism industry, its critics, and tourists themselves, and offers vital insights into a phenomenon that is central to the globalized world of today.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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January 6, 2008
I have been fascinated for many years with the contradictions and complexity of tourism. As someone who likes to travel, but has a deep commitment to social justice, tourism is an area that leaves me feeling confused and unsure.
Even if we have "good intentions," are we doing more harm than good when we travel? Is there such a thing as alternative tourism? Or maybe tourism is a positive thing and we should go forth with a curious mind.
This book, which focused on Caribbean tourism, hits on a lot of the important issues, such as cultural impact, economics and globalization, and ecotourism. Some of the most interesting sections connected the legacy of slavery with the current service-based tourist industry. I also enjoyed sections on the cruise ship industry, and attempts to create locally-controlled tourism.
If you want to think critically about tourism, check out this book. But it is not a light read, and sometimes gets bogged down in technical aspects of the industry. But overall I really enjoyed it.
And I had a lot of fun in the Bahamas!
Even if we have "good intentions," are we doing more harm than good when we travel? Is there such a thing as alternative tourism? Or maybe tourism is a positive thing and we should go forth with a curious mind.
This book, which focused on Caribbean tourism, hits on a lot of the important issues, such as cultural impact, economics and globalization, and ecotourism. Some of the most interesting sections connected the legacy of slavery with the current service-based tourist industry. I also enjoyed sections on the cruise ship industry, and attempts to create locally-controlled tourism.
If you want to think critically about tourism, check out this book. But it is not a light read, and sometimes gets bogged down in technical aspects of the industry. But overall I really enjoyed it.
And I had a lot of fun in the Bahamas!
Displaying 1 of 1 review