Planning Process For Sustainable Tourism Development: A study of the South Coast of Jamaica

Tourism is the largest source of employment and the second largest source of foreign exchange in Jamaica. As the industry has become strategically vital, it is expected that Government planning would reflect this importance. However mass tourism has been welcomed, which sees the number of arrivals as its main tracking indicator of success. This can be attributed to a lack of planning and strategic management. Improper planning in this sector is a major concern. This book suggests that a properly planned and regulated tourism sector can facilitate the non-consumptive use of natural resources and produce incomes that are greater and more sustainable. Also, there is a direct link between growth in the industry and positive change on the human development indicators, and the level of socio-economic development is very uneven, even in communities where the industry has been well developed. The book suggests that a more coherent approach to planning tourism development on the South Coast could provide more direct benefits to local people while simultaneously reducing its negative socio-economic and environmental impacts, thereby generating significantly greater benefits for Jamaica