Island TourismIsland Tourism

The Romans used the Isle of Capri as a The Romans used the Isle of Capri as a holiday destination in what may be the holiday destination in what may be the earliest example of island tourism.earliest example of island tourism.

In relation to modern tourism, there was not In relation to modern tourism, there was not much interest in the beach as a place of much interest in the beach as a place of recreation.recreation.

Sand is hard to walk on, it gets in your Sand is hard to walk on, it gets in your clothes, food, drinks, it blows in the wind, it clothes, food, drinks, it blows in the wind, it gets in your eyes, etc. gets in your eyes, etc.

Island TourismIsland Tourism

The bulk of island tourism during the 19The bulk of island tourism during the 19 thth and 20 and 20thth centuries was “health” based.centuries was “health” based.

It was believed that “ozone” and salt water bathing It was believed that “ozone” and salt water bathing would cure an ailing body.would cure an ailing body.

Bathing as opposed to swimming. Bathing as opposed to swimming. As swim suits as we know them today where not As swim suits as we know them today where not

yet invented, most swimmers swam in the nude. yet invented, most swimmers swam in the nude. When on holiday for a sickness, most tourists When on holiday for a sickness, most tourists

“immersed” themselves in the salt water rather “immersed” themselves in the salt water rather than swimthan swim

President George Washington brought his sick President George Washington brought his sick brother to Barbados. brother to Barbados.

The rise of Beach-goingThe rise of Beach-going

By the 1920s, the idea of “going to the beach” had By the 1920s, the idea of “going to the beach” had emerged.emerged.

Tanning became desirable, associated with Tanning became desirable, associated with spontaneity and sensuality in many of the same spontaneity and sensuality in many of the same ways we do todayways we do today

The sun was now thought of as a cure allThe sun was now thought of as a cure all Beaches of fine sand were preferredBeaches of fine sand were preferred As this idea trickled down through the classes, As this idea trickled down through the classes,

holidays at the seaside became more and more holidays at the seaside became more and more popularpopular

Jet TravelJet Travel

The rise of airline travel changed tourism The rise of airline travel changed tourism more than any other factormore than any other factor

It reduced travel to the Caribbean from 3 It reduced travel to the Caribbean from 3 weeks to 8 hours (from most vacationing weeks to 8 hours (from most vacationing countries)countries)

Travel agencies soon took over tourism, Travel agencies soon took over tourism, developing package tours and promoting developing package tours and promoting winter vacations to Europeans and winter vacations to Europeans and American/CanadiansAmerican/Canadians

The Caribbean FantasyThe Caribbean Fantasy

As tour agents developed tourism in the Caribbean, a new As tour agents developed tourism in the Caribbean, a new image emergedimage emerged

Hosts in the Caribbean speak EnglishHosts in the Caribbean speak English The islands are pure and beautifulThe islands are pure and beautiful Coral reefs, bright blue water, tropical fish, green golf Coral reefs, bright blue water, tropical fish, green golf

courses, etccourses, etc The Caribbean people as a fun loving, carefree, and NICEThe Caribbean people as a fun loving, carefree, and NICE Barbados described as “a little bit of paradise,” and Barbados described as “a little bit of paradise,” and

“Heaven on Earth”“Heaven on Earth” What is hidden? The history of the Caribbean as a place of What is hidden? The history of the Caribbean as a place of

genocide, brutality, slavery, the plantation system and genocide, brutality, slavery, the plantation system and underdevelopment.underdevelopment.

Modern Island TourismModern Island Tourism

By the 1950s most governments had adopted a pro-By the 1950s most governments had adopted a pro-tourism industry stancetourism industry stance

Coupled with the World Bank, the United Nations, and Coupled with the World Bank, the United Nations, and most importantly, the World Tourism Organization, tourism most importantly, the World Tourism Organization, tourism flourishedflourished

Some organizations called tourism a sustainable and Some organizations called tourism a sustainable and localized resource. localized resource.

Some also noted tourism could have almost limitless Some also noted tourism could have almost limitless growth potential because it relied on natural renewable growth potential because it relied on natural renewable resources.resources.

What is wrong with this assumption?What is wrong with this assumption?– Think about Ice, air conditioning, pool upkeep, laundry…Think about Ice, air conditioning, pool upkeep, laundry…

Changing Modes of ProductionChanging Modes of Production

Some advocates argued that developing a large scale Some advocates argued that developing a large scale tourism industry could help third world countries leap from tourism industry could help third world countries leap from a resource based (extractive) economy to a service based a resource based (extractive) economy to a service based (extortive) economy. (extortive) economy.

Not only would tourism raise the standard of living (again, Not only would tourism raise the standard of living (again, no mention of quality of life) but also act as a way to bond no mention of quality of life) but also act as a way to bond hosts and guests together.hosts and guests together.

Even the Church condoned touring, arguing it worked Even the Church condoned touring, arguing it worked similar to missions, in that tourism can bridge the gaps similar to missions, in that tourism can bridge the gaps between cultures. between cultures.

Even in the academy, most critics arguing for the negative Even in the academy, most critics arguing for the negative social impacts were drown out by calls for tourism social impacts were drown out by calls for tourism development projects.development projects.

Economists writing on the subject during this period often Economists writing on the subject during this period often “read like a series of press releases” (Crick 1989). “read like a series of press releases” (Crick 1989).

ComparisonsComparisons

Tourism in Germany represents only 0.17% Tourism in Germany represents only 0.17% of the economy, in the UK 1.5%, in Spain of the economy, in the UK 1.5%, in Spain 5.2%. 5.2%.

Tourism on islands such as Bermuda Tourism on islands such as Bermuda represents nearly 50% of the nation’s GNP. represents nearly 50% of the nation’s GNP.

The bulk of Caribbean peoples now work in The bulk of Caribbean peoples now work in the tourist industry. the tourist industry.

Caribbean…Caribbean…

In the area Gmelch studied the “hosts” are In the area Gmelch studied the “hosts” are often mix ethnicity residents of the islands, often mix ethnicity residents of the islands, and the “guests” are mainly American, and the “guests” are mainly American, British, and Canadian. British, and Canadian.

Why? Hint: leisure Why? Hint: leisure Gmelch noted a major flaw in tourism Gmelch noted a major flaw in tourism

research was: the lack of native’s voice in research was: the lack of native’s voice in the discussionsthe discussions

Tourism in BarbadosTourism in Barbados

George Gmelch and his wife Sharon BohnGeorge Gmelch and his wife Sharon Bohn– Reveals the encounters between hosts and guests as Reveals the encounters between hosts and guests as

workers and tourists are known in both the travel workers and tourists are known in both the travel industry and the academyindustry and the academy

– In general, the tourism dealt with by Gmelch and others In general, the tourism dealt with by Gmelch and others involves travelers from the most developed parts of the involves travelers from the most developed parts of the world who are traveling and vacationing in economically world who are traveling and vacationing in economically less developed regions.less developed regions.

– The article you read focus on Barbados, but this The article you read focus on Barbados, but this anthropology husband wife team did research anthropology husband wife team did research throughout the islandsthroughout the islands

DiscussionDiscussion

How does television spread culture?How does television spread culture? What are the ecological impacts of tourism?What are the ecological impacts of tourism? Discuss the host guest relationship…Discuss the host guest relationship…

positives or negatives?positives or negatives? Discuss immigration, positives and Discuss immigration, positives and

negatives…negatives…