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While tourism acts as the backbone of many Caribbean economies, cruise tourism, especially, has proven to be one of the most popular segments of the tourism industry, attracting millions of passengers per year.
The book “Cruise Tourism in the Caribbean – Selling Sunshine” edited by Martha Honey, examines the economic, environmental and social impacts of cruise tourism. The author explores issues such as the effects of natural disasters, “over tourism” and the environmental costs of cruise tourism. The book is based on research conducted by Honey and other authors, and consists of 10 sections, encompassing four main parts: (1) the history and growth of cruise tourism; (2) the economic model and impacts of cruise tourism; (3) the environmental footprint of the cruise industry and; (4) cruise tourism’s impacts on historic cities.
The inaugural chapter recounts the story of the industry, accentuating the Caribbean’s overwhelming dependence on the U.S. market with over 90 percent of passengers coming from the United States. Though the genesis of being merely a winter vacation for retirees from Florida as well as persons from the north seeking to escape the winter season, the industry later became a luxurious experience, with the ship itself becoming the destination given onboard activities, while the ports of call are viewed simply as attractions.
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