2. Main Geographical Features
Tropical location: between 5 and 30 degrees
north of the Equator
Sheltered from strong trade winds
Significant and diverse maritime and
hydrological resources – in addition to oceans
- reefs, ship wrecks, etc.
Diverse relief and ecological habitats
Tropics, volcanic islands, beaches, deserts
Mild and reliable climatic conditions
3. Stretches about 2,000 miles from north to
south (Florida to South America)
Consists of about 32 countries; each made up
of several individual islands
Strategic location between North and South
America (proximity to US & Canadian
Market)
Location in summer hurricane region
Main Geographical Features
5. Warm blue waters an average of 76F year
round
Many of the countries have evolved into water-
sport destinations
They refined the luxury, all-inclusive holiday
concept
Heavy dependence on tourism
About 25%-75% direct and indirect employment is
in tourism
The Caribbean
6. The Caribbean
Generally, single-destination “stay-
puts”, but inter-island air travel and
island hopping tourism is increasing
Leading cruise region in the world
Expanding wedding and honeymoon
tourism (Romance Tourism)
Bareboat self-charters and crewed
yacht cruising are also important
7. Historical Factors
Originally settled by peaceful Arawak
Indians
Followed by Fierce Carib Indians
European exploration about 500 years
ago, led by Spain; destruction of
Caribs, Arawaks and their cultures
Dominica - only island with a remaining indigenous
population
European colonization, exploitation, and
mercantilism (mostly
France, England, Spain and the Dutch)
8. Historical Factors
Introduction and establishment of plantation
economy (sugarcane, banana, distilleries);
Resulted in the region’s incorporation into global
economy through trade)
Forced slave labor from West Africa to
support labor-intensive plantation economies
Similar to the USA
Led to current Afro-Caribbean heritage in
the forms of music, dance, language,
religion, etc.
9. Historical Factors
Importation of indentured (domestic) labor
from Europe, India and South Asia
Some regions still retain the cultural influence of
immigrants in the region
European settlement in the region during the
wave of migration in the late 19th century
Political partitioning of the region between
European countries in the late 1800s -
English, Dutch, French and Spanish
10. Historical and
Political Factors
Different policies affected socio-cultural
landscape - Martinique and Guadalupe are
overseas French territories
US influence - other US territories
Prohibition in the US and origins of
Caribbean cruise industry (booze cruises)
Post WWII economic diversification from
traditional agriculture and expansion of the
Tourism sector
11. Some Factors Central to
Caribbean Tourism
Mild, pleasant, reliable climate
Uniquely attractive hydrological
resource base
Rich, abundant, diverse natural and
cultural resources
Hospitality of the resident
population, despite their history of
colonization and exploitation
12. Some Critical Factors
Proximity to the North American Market
Linguistic Assets
Dollar zone, easy use of credit cards
Political Stability, foreign investments
Affordability, competition among destination
and tourism service providers
Extensive marketing and promotion
13. Regional Cooperation
Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)
http://www.onecaribbean.org/aboutus/
http://vimeo.com/16897755
Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association
(CHTA)
http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/
Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI)
http://www.ustr.gov/trade-topics/trade-
development/preference-programs/caribbean-
basin-initiative-cbi
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
http://www.caricom.org/
14. Microstates
A Microstate is a country or sovereign state with
less than 1 million people
Microstates have small land area - less than
1000 square kilometers of land
Typically limited resource and economic base
There are numerous island and non-island
microstates around the world
Caribbean
Oceania
Indian Ocean
Europe
15. Tourism on Island Microstates
Tourism tends to dominate the economies of island
microstates (measured in terms of tourism receipts
accounting for more than 10% of export earnings or
5% of GNP)
Most Caribbean countries are considered Island
Microstates
About 12 of these Caribbean microstates have
tourism-dependent economies
Hence tourism can overwhelm, and lead to many
severe adverse social, economic and environmental
impacts
16. Tourism: The Irritant Industry
Although tourism is big business in the Caribbean
basin, it has serious drawbacks:
The invasion of poor communities by affluent tourists result
in a rising sense of local anger and resentment by the locals
The intervention of local governments and multinational
corporation removes opportunities from local
entrepreneurs in favor of large operations and major
resorts, e.g., Club Med
17. Selected Impacts of Tourism
in the Caribbean
Social: drugs, crime, prostitution
Economic: Leakage, dependency,
urbanization, alienation of land, economic
demonstration effect, high costs, inflation,
land speculation
Environmental: pollution, excess carrying
capacity, land use conflicts
18. Overview of Tourism in
Caribbean
2011 - 20.8 million visitors
Growth 1.6% 2000 -10…stagnant (not
much growth as we learned last week)
2011 - $23.9 billion in tourist
expenditure
$1,150 per visitor
Expenditures up from 2010 but per visitor
expenditures down by $30/visitor
21. Puerto Rico
American territory, cruise ship
hub, airline gateway to the Caribbean
and Latin America
Beach, forest and cultural resources
Proximity to USVI
Major hotel construction and renovations
3.7 million arrivals 2010 (no stats - 2011)
$3.6 billion
22. Dominican Republic
Has some of the best beaches in the Caribbean
Expanding tourism marketing in
Europe, North, and South America
Major resort beach development
Among the fastest growing destinations in the
Caribbean 2000-2006
4.1 million arrivals (2010), 4.3 million (2011)
$4.2 billion (2010), $4.35 billion (2011)
23. Jamaica
Diversified product:
golf, beaches, mountains, fine resorts, music
festivals, wedding and honeymoon tourism
Very popular as an all inclusive resort destination
Main resorts include Montego Bay, Negril, and
Ocho Rios
Recent violence and increase in crime threaten
to undermine tourism
1.9 million arrivals (2010), same in 2011
$2 billion (2010), same in 2011
24. Cayman Islands
Dive tourism and international
banking
Pioneered strict rules for coral
reef protection
Considerable cruise tourism
Fairly up-scale and expensive
destination
25. The Bahamas
Has about 700 islands, many labeled
“paradisical”
Major tourism is concentrated on Grand
Bahamas, Nassau/Paradise Islands
Off-shore international banking
Gambling, Casinos and cruise tourism
Proximity to the USA - only 160 miles from
Florida
1.37 million arrivals (2010), 1.34 million (2011)
$2.1 Billion (2010), no stats for 2011
26. Bermuda
Bermuda consists of 150 islands and islets, of
which 20 are inhabited
The country is divided into 9 Parishes
Total land area is 55 Square Kilometers with
a population of about 62,000
Population density is 1127 people per square
kilometer (compared to Japan = 326, US = 26
and Bahamas = 27)
27. Bermuda
Proximity to North America influences
tourism
About 600 miles from the eastern seaboard
87% of tourists are from the USA
Per capita income is higher than USA
Tourism is the main employer, contributes
33% to GNP
28. Bermuda
Tourist receipts in 2008 - $550 million
Down to $466 million in 2011
Air arrivals in 2008 - 350,000
Cruise arrivals in 2008 - 280,000
During peak tourist season, ratio is about 10
tourists per 1 resident - High Irritation Index
29. Bermuda video
Go to Bermuda promotional video
http://www.youtube.com/bermuda#p/u/
7/_jfILNAPZkI
31. Other leading destinations
Aruba - 871,000 visitors, $1.3 billion
(2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfy2E
_Xp7eo&feature=related
Barbados - 568,000 visitors, just under
$1 billion (2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-
7TtY_kTbD8
32. Emerging Destinations
Cuba: Havana and the Varadero
resort areas
2.5 million arrivals (2010), 2.68
million arrivals (2011)
$2.1 billion (2010), no stats for 2011
33. History
Between WWI and the late 1950’s Cuba was
a major destination for Americans
Havana was dubbed the “Latin Las Vegas”
# 1 tourism destination in the Caribbean
Socialist Revolution in the 1950’s
Resulted in placement of communist government
Improved relations with the USSR and Cuba
Disintegration of relations with the US and Cuba
Economic embargo that stands until today
Travel to Cuba prohibited, purchase or use of Cuban
products illegal for Americans
35. History until today
Tourism to Cuba was generally curtailed after the
revolution
Perceived connection to capitalism
High spending tourists replaced by low spending tourists
from the Eastern block countries to some extent
1970’s renewed interest in travel to Cuba (small #s)
Early 1990’s collapse of the Soviet Union
Results in collapse of Cuban economy as they were tied so
closely to the USSR economy
New interest by the Cuban government in development of
tourism - mainly as a quick means to earn money
Goals - 1) increase revenues generated by the tourism
industry
2) increase the number of tourist arrivals
36. Strategies to develop
Three measures to meet goals (1990s)
Build relationships with international companies
to build and manage hotels and other facilities
Attracting new foreign investment in other
sections of their economy
Restructuring of bureacracy responsible for
tourism
This has worked - tourists increased,
revenues increased
37. Some problems
Some major tourist developments in Cuba but much
of the infrastructure is not on par with other
Caribbean countries
Lack of skilled managers and other professionals
educated in tourism profession
Differentiation from other Caribbean destinations
Worldwide economic recession
Tourism unlikely to grow while the US embargo is
still in place
38. Some positive things
“Untouched by time”
Health tourism
Havana designated a UNESCO World Heritage
site
Well known people have history in Cuba
Potential novelty of travel to Cuba
Relatively higher levels of safety
39. No Reservations - Cuba
http://www.travelchannel.com/Video
/relive-cuba-with-tony-15423
Hinweis der Redaktion
While the region offers many of the same tourism opportunities, I want to give an overview of some places in the Caribbean
