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Towards sustainable tourism: The need to integrate conservation and development using the B uccoo R eef M arine P ark, T obago, W est I ndies
Author(s) -
Hassanali Kahlil
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
natural resources forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1477-8947
pISSN - 0165-0203
DOI - 10.1111/1477-8947.12004
Subject(s) - tourism , sustainability , business , sustainable development , reef , economy , geography , economics , ecology , biology , archaeology
In many countries of the C aribbean, tourism is a mainstay to economies. Semi‐autonomous T obago's B uccoo R eef M arine P ark ( BRMP ) was established as one of the island's premier tourist attractions. However, the increasing and poorly regulated activity in the coastal zone that is taking place to complement the burgeoning tourism industry, threatens the ecological integrity of the B uccoo R eef. This paper investigates the synergies between conservation, sustainable tourism and improving societal economic and social well‐being. Within a framework that recognises the strategic importance of a competitive tourism product, it examines how the B uccoo R eef impacts the livelihoods and ongoing development in T obago. It explores the extent and probable causes for the Reef's decline. Proposed is how the Park can better achieve conservation of the reef ecosystem while encouraging economic and social growth on the island, with a goal of more effectively managing and sustainably exploiting the coral reef resources of T obago.