How do you really feel about tourism?

[BlackCryptoKnight]

How do you really feel about tourism? Do you think it is good? Do you think it is bad? Why?

[Manu]

I think its good. It exposes us and we earn some money in the process. Of course, with that, there is an influx of negative influences but that's for us to manage.

[Chicokid]

Tourism is a viable option especially for the smaller islands such as Grenada. It provides major sources of revenue to the Government and income to ordinary persons such as tour guides, hotel workers, etc....

There are many new resorts and hotels under construction which is expected to boost tourism even further.

Of course the down side is that we have to be prepared to accept different lifestyles such as for example the Gay cruise issues. There was an issue sometime last year I believe where a Gay Cruise ship docked onto our shores. People were against it claiming that our society is a "Christian" one and such should not be accepted. Other issues probably rare is if some visitor may have some form of communicable disease that may potentially infect a nation.

Overall tourism is a good thing and a large source of revenue.

[CyberCat]

Overall tourism is a good thing and a large source of revenue.

I'd like to see some numbers on that, especially compared to say Agriculture.

[Manu]

In Jamaica?? Are you for real??? Tourism contributes the most to our economy. Not to mention places like Bahamas that basically dependent on it totally.

[ramesh]

I work in the Tourism industry, but it is not all roses.

1. Business is decreasing due to the internet. Why travel when all that you need can be delivered by FedEx?

2. Salaries are just barely above the minimum wage, especially where the unions are paid to stay away.

3. Drugs, pimps and prostitution. Harassment.

[Manu]

Hmmm... well it contributes to our GDP or is it GNP???

[Nika_869]

I work in the Tourism industry, but it is not all roses.

1. Business is decreasing due to the internet. Why travel when all that you need can be delivered by FedEx?

2. Salaries are just barely above the minimum wage, especially where the unions are paid to stay away.

3. Drugs, pimps and prostitution. Harassment.

Thank you. I was just about to say that. While Tourism may be seen as profitable to some, it has its price. Hotel workers are paid minimum wage based on the standard of living for their respective countries. especially with the fact that most individuals in the hospitality industry can only receive extra through tips.

I see it as an excellent way to introduce our cultural identity to them. To create an awareness and give them to opportunity to understand us as people, however, women and men alike are trying to adapt to that of the tourists.

Also, the crime rate seems to escalate during Tourism season, especially in the past couple of years, due to the economic changes that have been occurring.

There is an increase in entrepreneurship for some, like the "Rent-A-Dread" company, as well as many Inns. The downfall to Tourism in this sense is that the more marketable a country becomes, the more Hotel owners look towards expanding, hence knocking out the lil man.

[Chicokid]

Hmmm... well it contributes to our GDP or is it GNP???

Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

[Chicokid]

I'd like to see some numbers on that, especially compared to say Agriculture.

Speaking for the region as a whole.

[silentburn]

How do you really feel about tourism? Do you think it is good? Do you think it is bad? Why?

Its good. It opens other avenues of generating revenue. The pros are more likely to outweigh the cons.

Ramesh listed some of the cons faced by those employed in the tourism sector. If there was no tourism sector, would all those people be able to find sustained employment with the way the economy is going now? At least that's the situation in regard to Jamaica.

Oh one other con of tourism, well, wholesale tourism, is the effect it may have on the environment due to large hotels and structures which may pop over the next century(providing World War 3 doesn't start or the World doesn't end). Oh I forgot, our crime rate will help to keep that in check too.


I think its good. It exposes us and we earn some money in the process. Of course, with that, there is an influx of negative influences but that's for us to manage.

Influx of negative influences? :confused: Maybe 15 - 20 years ago that statement would have had a small amount of truth to it. Today, I fear its the other way around, there are a plethora of home grown negative behaviours that we have developed in Jamaica which have no direct link to tourism whatsoever. We have more to fear from ourselves than from visitors...

The most negative aspect of tourism may have been its role in helping to spread HIV. Wouldn't it be nice to see a full panoramic chart with details comparing the infection rates caused by visitors against those caused by fellow Jamaican's who travel?

Back to the point of Influx of negative influences... since the inception of CABLE and SATELLITE TV no other means of indoctrination has been so successful and potent at influencing the behaviour of people across the world. None other!! Tourism doesn't even come close.

[Manu]

Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

Yeah I knew it was that one. LOL....

The other one is local businesses in foreign countries plus GDP - Overseas businesses here right?