As the Caribbean’s number one industry grows, so does the burden on infrastructure, the environment and precious resources
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]round 30 million people descended on the Caribbean last year, and just over a million of them came to Saint Lucia. They swam in the sea, lounged on beaches, sampled the local food, visited historic sites and contributed US$37bn to the region’s economy.
Without tourism many Caribbean economies would collapse but the sector has its downsides. More people means more problems, specifically overcrowding at vulnerable sites, pressure on an already ailing infrastructure and stress on the fragile environment. With greater numbers of visitors flooding into island destinations, countries like Saint Lucia risk becoming the victim of their own success.
CROWDS AND THREATS
The Caribbean’s visitors are, by and large, seasonal. They tend to shun the hurricane months of the summer and vacation mostly between November and May, catching the best of the weather. The climate and tropical environment is the main attraction—luring people to beachside resorts where they can enjoy the much-publicised sun, sand and sea.
But space is limited on small islands and a busy winter season can lead to overcrowded beaches, alienating local residents and putting pressure on vital marine and land habitats. These problems can quickly escalate as large resorts spring up to accommodate extra visitors, changing the character of seaside neighbourhoods, increasing traffic to the area and introducing more waste, more pollution and more development.
And it’s not just beaches. As the Caribbean moves to monetise its heritage, tourist boards across the region are now encouraging visitors to experience historic sites and cultural landmarks. These important areas are especially vulnerable to degradation: while the vast majority of tourists behave respectfully, there will always be those who litter or deface attractions.
OFFERING MORE
Across the region, the tourism industry provides much-needed employment, opportunities for small businesses and economic stability. This crucial sector must be allowed to grow and fulfil its potential but it’s a balancing act and growth without careful consideration will be self-defeating.
Most of the problems that come with overcrowding can be avoided through diversity and innovation. While Saint Lucia’s tourism model has previously relied on its large, all-inclusive, beachside resorts, the country is now branching out into a more sustainable product, offering visitors more options so they are not concentrated in just a few areas.
This summer, the Ministry of Tourism is launching its ‘Summer of Discovery’ promotion which invites tourists to visit 25 sites and attractions that showcase the island’s family, adventure, dive, health and wellness, romance and culinary niches.
The ‘village tourism’ initiative, first introduced in 2007 and now finally gaining ground, is also focused on spreading the tourist dollar. The government has received a EC$324,000 grant from the CARICOM Development Fund to help draw up a roadmap for the project which concentrates on eco and heritage tourism, powered by local small businesses and entrepreneurs. This diversity will help spread the concentration of visitors around the island, into different sectors and markets.
UPGRADING AND EXPANDING
In a year when many Caribbean countries were struggling to rebuild post-hurricanes, Saint Lucia emerged as a star performer in the tourism stakes, recording 11 per cent growth in 2017. With visitor numbers at an all-time high, the government is now looking to upgrade its infrastructure to ensure tourists remain a blessing rather than a burden.
The Hewanorra International Airport has reached capacity and is embarking on an ambitious US$100m redevelopment plan, financed by the Republic of China (Taiwan). The phased redevelopment will include construction of a new terminal building, creation of a new air traffic control tower and redesign of the runway. The new facilities are expected to come onstream by 2020.
Saint Lucia’s cruise sector grew by 14 per cent in 2017, requiring a new look at the present port situation. The government intends to completely overhaul Pointe Seraphine in the coming years, adding a new shopping complex, hotel, business centre and marina.
Elsewhere, the government is upgrading its road network and its water supply chain, replacing pipes, expanding water treatment plants and installing new storage tanks.
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
Protecting infrastructure and resources from an onslaught of tourists is important but the environment deserves equal attention. The Caribbean has long relied on its pristine ecosystem to support industries such as agriculture and tourism and the region is home to many unique habitats and species. The ecology of the Caribbean is diverse, rich and especially vulnerable to development.
Effective, and rigorously implemented, environmental laws can help. Domestic legislation that limits boating activity and fishing around vital reefs, protects endangered species such as sharks and sea turtles, and has a crucial role to play in determining tourism best practices.
Also necessary is a comprehensive waste management strategy. An influx of visitors means more garbage but destinations can limit this through sensible, pro-active measures such as recycling, public awareness efforts and use of compostable materials.
DEVELOPING A STRATEGY
The world is getting richer, and more mobile. Thanks to technology, it’s now more convenient than ever to arrange and book trips and, with airlines spreading their routes across the Caribbean, even easier to visit the islands. Travel is booming and, with that growth, comes the need to talk about strategic tourism.
Spreading visitors across sites, ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place and protecting both locals and the environment are all part of a holistic approach to manage and support tourist growth. A recent report from The World Travel & Tourism Council called for tourist destinations around the world to build their own customised toolkit as the industry grows at a rapid pace, saying: “Destinations need to shift their focus from promotion to broader planning and management challenges. Those with a clear, long-term strategy built upon a solid fact base are more likely to achieve sustainable growth and mitigate—or even prevent—overcrowding.”
