U.S. High School Junior’s Research on why Aruba (and the Caribbean) Shouldn’t Rely So Much on Tourists

Hi all, I am a high schooler from the U.S. (currently a junior). I did some research on the effects of tourism on the Caribbean, with my argument being that although tourism benefits the Caribbean region in the short term financially and economically, reliance on tourism undermines long-term regional stability; therefore, Caribbean nations should invest in other economic sectors in addition to tourism to diversify primary sources of income. My research and citations are listed below, and I’d love to hear thoughts on this topic, especially from people who frequently travel to the region and those who live there. In addition, if anyone can get me in touch with people who can help make a difference in this issue, please DM me.

Key points of research

• Tourism makes up roughly 15-25% of GDP in many Caribbean islands (sources include Ryan R. Peterson, Chair of Aruba’s National Climate Resilience Council (NCRC)and IDB/OECD reports).
• The industry is very seasonal and vulnerable to hurricanes. I saw this firsthand when my Boy Scout troop helped with hurricane relief in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian in 2021.
• Locals on busier islands often have more negative views of tourism (Baker & Ramaprasad study, (2021). (David M.C. Baker and Unni Ramaprasad are Professor of Hospitality and Tourism management and Associate Professor of Marketing respectively at Tennessee State University )
• Rapid tourism growth can lead to environmental damage and inequality (Peterson’s Aruba study).

Link to Full Essay: Here