Environmental Management Insertion in Tourism: Sector Policies in the Caribbean

This study is concerned with the insertion of environmental management in tourist sector policies to ensure that threats are recognized and addressed. Four main characteristics of Caribbean tourism provide the rationale for this study. First, tourism is the single most common industry in the region - particularly in the island economies. Second, tourism is the fastest growing industry in virtually every Caribbean country, including those in which the sector is not presently an important economic contributor. Third, tourism also is the most important and, sometimes, the only productive sector in some of these economies. Finally, the environment (ecological and socio-cultural) which is the economic `goose¿ that explains the initial three characteristics above - is under significant threat in several Caribbean tourist destinations. The study analyses the cases of Barbados, Bahamas, Saint Lucia and Tobago and presents a last chapter with summary and recommendations.