Loading...
Tourism and Development in the Caribbean: San Nicolas (Aruba) as a case study
Rodríguez Iglesias, Carlos Andrews, Marushka
Rodríguez Iglesias, Carlos
Andrews, Marushka
Promotor / Advisor
Keyword
Location research
Date
2019-11
License
Publisher
Language
en
ISSN
ISBN
Citations
Altmetric:
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Abstract
Tourism and Development in the Caribbean: San Nicolas (Aruba) as a case study. In 2019, the Aruba Ministry of Tourism once again set in motion a plan to build an all-inclusive hotel in the area of San Nicolas, on the eastern coast of Aruba. It is not the first time that this idea has been advanced, stirring heated debate among different community sectors. Those in favor argue that the eastern coast of the island has not been able to reap the benefits of Aruba’s economic development during the past few decades because all of the hotels, restaurants and other tourist attractions have been built on the northwestern part of the island, just north of the capital Oranjestad. The proportion of households living in poverty in San Nicolas is the highest for the island, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. On the other hand, strong opposition has been voiced by those who argue, among other things, that Aruba’s economy is already overly dependent on hospitality (87% of all jobs are directly or indirectly supported by tourism). Environmental groups fiercely oppose building new large-scale hotels that will add to the already existing pressure on the environment including land and sea flora and fauna. Others fear that bringing mass tourism will transform San Nicolas, currently billed as the charming “cultural and artistic capital of Aruba”, into yet another generic, Americanized vacation destination. The San Nicolas debate will be presented as a case study that many small-island Caribbean nations and territories can relate to, as they seek to balance the needs of employment opportunities, public welfare, environmental protection, sustainable economic activity and guaranteed local participation.
Citation
Rodríguez Iglesias, C., Andrews, M. (2019). Tourism and Development in the Caribbean: San Nicolas (Aruba) as a case study. [Conference presentation]. 22nd annual Eastern Caribbean island cultures conference on languages, literature and cultures of the Eastern and Greater Caribbean ‘Islands in Between’ University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix Campus 31 October - 2 November, 2019.
Sponsorship
Journal / Book / Conference
22nd annual Eastern Caribbean island cultures conference on languages, literature and cultures of the Eastern and Greater Caribbean ‘Islands in Between’ University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix Campus 31 October - 2 November, 2019