Impacts of Tourism
Close analysis of case study shows that environmental impacts as well as sociocultural effects have prevented the economic benefits that local communities have received.
It is absolutely a fact that tourism has brought a variety of economic benefits to local communities. First of all, it creates employment from local people. According to Duval (2004b, 4), Caribbean tourism is on the way of development, which accounts for over 15 percent of the region’s occupation and nearly 6 percent of its GDP. It can also be seen that the cost of setting up a new job in tourism sector is less than one-fifth of the one in the manufacturing field. Moreover, international tourism is also a directly activity to generate foreign currency, hence contributing to balance the local payment. The expansion of tourism, as well, needs a demand of modern infrastructure such as highways and airfields, catering services, etc… As Harrison, Jayawardena, and Clayton (2003) have pointed out that Caribbean governments have a tendency to develop public infrastructure programs to enlarge the benefit that tourism bring to. Thus, these evidences above are the reason why tourism could bring profit to improve regional economy.
Despite the fact that there are many economic benefits from tourists, some negative aspects are not overlooked. Taking Caribbean as an example, their peak tourism period typically runs from December until April, so tourism is just a seasonal circumstance. It leads to the result that jobs which offer for local communities are also available for the period time of the year. One more pessimistic factor can be considered is creating economic leakage. For instance, a study which is carried out by Wood (2004, 158-59) showed that cruise tourism in Caribbean just accounted for 12 percent of tourist expenditure, while comparing to 42 percent of tourist arrivals to that place. Hence where do money go? Wood (2004,166) has indicated that visitors just spend a little bit in duty-free shop
It is absolutely a fact that tourism has brought a variety of economic benefits to local communities. First of all, it creates employment from local people. According to Duval (2004b, 4), Caribbean tourism is on the way of development, which accounts for over 15 percent of the region’s occupation and nearly 6 percent of its GDP. It can also be seen that the cost of setting up a new job in tourism sector is less than one-fifth of the one in the manufacturing field. Moreover, international tourism is also a directly activity to generate foreign currency, hence contributing to balance the local payment. The expansion of tourism, as well, needs a demand of modern infrastructure such as highways and airfields, catering services, etc… As Harrison, Jayawardena, and Clayton (2003) have pointed out that Caribbean governments have a tendency to develop public infrastructure programs to enlarge the benefit that tourism bring to. Thus, these evidences above are the reason why tourism could bring profit to improve regional economy.
Despite the fact that there are many economic benefits from tourists, some negative aspects are not overlooked. Taking Caribbean as an example, their peak tourism period typically runs from December until April, so tourism is just a seasonal circumstance. It leads to the result that jobs which offer for local communities are also available for the period time of the year. One more pessimistic factor can be considered is creating economic leakage. For instance, a study which is carried out by Wood (2004, 158-59) showed that cruise tourism in Caribbean just accounted for 12 percent of tourist expenditure, while comparing to 42 percent of tourist arrivals to that place. Hence where do money go? Wood (2004,166) has indicated that visitors just spend a little bit in duty-free shop