Achieving Sustainable Development In Developing State Of Grenada Tourism Essay

Achieving Sustainable teaching In exploitation jell forward Of Grenada Tourism EssayIn order to adequately address the misgiving of why Sustainable Development is alpha in the context of the low-toned Island Developing farming of Grenada it is important to first understand what Sustainable Development is and what it entails. Secondly, the characteristics of Grenada must(prenominal) be described in terms of the most executable forward motion for achieving Sustainable Development.According to the Brundtland Report (1987), sustainable using is tuition that meets the require of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their witness needs The commission as well emphasizes that whether a countrified is considered developed or developing (in the context of Grenada) the goals of genial and scotch increment must be defined in terms of sustainability.According to the CIA World Fact bulk (2010), Grenada relies heavily on touristry as its main(prenominal) means of contrary ex heighten. The touristry industry contri excepted 72.98 % of Grenadas overall GDP in 2008 (World pious platitude Statistics, 2008), which underpins the impressiveness of this industry to the economy. Therefore, sustainable development as it pertains to Grenada should be examined within the mannequin of touristry since it is Grenadas principal income generator and in essence what fuels the economy. How incessantly, it must be noned that touristry is not the solo industry that bear be looked at in terms of sustainability in Grenada. Agriculture, construction, textiles and food and beverages ar also other industries. However, these also feed into the touristry sector.According to Joseph (2010), tourism utilizes the historic, scotch, socio- heathenish and purlieu to grow and develop. The concept of sustainability as it relates to tourism put forth by McKercher (2003) further strengthens this point since its approach is very holistic a nd encompasses four main pillars sparing, ecological/environment, ethnic and local anesthetic anaesthetic anaesthetic. All four pillars atomic number 18 recognized as cosmos paramount in order to achieve some(prenominal) year of sustainability. Therefore each pillar leave behind be examined in the in the context of Grenada.According to McKercher (2003) economic sustainability is geared at profiting the country in both the immediate and long term. Tourism affords the Small Island Developing State of Grenada the opportunity of improving its economic well-being (Joseph, 2010). Grenada derives umpteen economic benefits from the tourism industry. The impose revenues collected as a result of accommodation, restaurant taxes, dispersedrome and sales taxes all provide the government with oft required tax revenues. The jobs created are spread across the economy, such a retail, construction, manufacturing and communications (Department of sparing and Social personal matters, 1999). Additionally, it earns the country expensive foreign exchange. This new money which is brought into the country in turn creates a multiplier effect, thus circulating some(prenominal) segments of the economy (Joseph, 2010). Tourism also attracts additional businesses and services as a means of support.Grenada is currently experiencing tough economic clock as a result of the global financial crisis. As a result, unemployment and poverty levels are increasing creating the need of employment opportunities for locals. According to the International Monetary caudex (2010), the Gross Domestic Product of Grenada is estimated to have declined 7.7% with a 13% lapse in tourism. Therefore, one of the economic concerns for tourism in Grenada that this brings to the forefront is the novelty of the local economy. According to McKercher (2003) the diversification of the products by developing a immense vomit up of tourism activities is part of economic sustainability. This should be taken into good will since the tourism sector in Grenada is seasonal thus being ineffectual to provide steady streams of income. Also, Grenada is susceptible to natural disasters particularly hurricanes which have a devastating effect on tourism infrastructure. Therefore, the adoption of sustainable tourism development could serve to create diversity and thus mitigate against economic vulnerability in the tourism sector. Another economic consideration that pertains to sustainable tourism in Grenada is the minimization of escapism. McKercher (2003) promotes the administration of partnerships throughout the entire add up chain from micro-sized local businesses to multinational organizations. A major form of leakage in the context of Grenada is that legion(predicate) of the profits generated from the industry are exported since many of the major tourist operations are takeed by foreigners. For Example, many villas are being built in Grenada by foreign investors who ulterior sel l these villas to individual owners, thus not importantly contributing natural covering to the local economy. The Port Louis project is a perfect drill. Although the lagoon is much more picturesque than it was before Peter De Savary invested in it. Grenadians havent directly benefited from this development since Mr. De Savary has made his profit by selling the property to Camper and Nicholson, some other foreign owner, and left with his money. Consequently, the occurrence of leakage results in the local world bearing the environmental and pagan costs of tourism while retaining relatively little of the economic benefits and thus reducing the multiplier effect.Over the shoemakers last few years Grenada has experienced a tremendous amount of development as a result of tourism. However, many of these developments were not executed in an economically sustainable manner. Bhola (2010) emphasizes that economically sustainable tourism should ensure viable, long-run economic operation s, providing socio-economic benefits to all perilholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income, earning opportunities and favorable services to host communities and contributing to poverty alleviation. The Brundtland Report (1987) further stresses the integrating of economic and ecological considerations in decision making because these concerns need no necessarily have to be in opposition.McKercher (2003) purports that when it pertains to ecological/environmental sustainability that any form of development must be compatible with the maintenance of demand ecological processes, biological diversity and biological resources. However, in the context of Grenadas tourism industry, according to Kelly (2008) the Grenadian government is sacrificing the islands pure environment to the fast buck of fixture development. The Mount Hartman e ground development is one such project set as a electric potential threat to a tract of pristine dry forest and swamp y mangroves and also the Grenada Dove which Mount Hartman happens to be a nesting site for. According to Dr. Clare Morrall (as cited by Kelly, 2008) Grenadas mangroves are incredibly important to the ecosystems of the surrounding area and what is happening in Grenada will have an clash on look for stockswhich are at the point of collapse.The environmental characteristics of Grenada are one of the main reasons that it is such an attractive tourist destination. These include the lush green vegetation, white sandy beaches and exquisite marine and terrestrial emotional state. However, tourism puts added strain on these resources through excess demand and unbalanced economic development (Bhola, 2010). Some of the environmental problems associated with tourism are deforestation, water and air pollution, poor solid waste management practices and coastal destruction of coral reefs, mangroves etc (Joseph, 2010). The development of hotels, marinas and harbours along our coastline has ser ved to damage shoreline ecosystems, coral reefs and mangrove systems. According to Burke, Greenhalgh Prager et.al (2008), the valuable goods and services provided by ecosystems such as coral reefs are oftentimes overlooked or underappreciated in coastal investment , development and indemnity decisions, resulting in short-sighted decisions that do not maximize the long-term economic potential of coastal areas. Therefore, not only is the environment abnormal but the viability of Grenada as a tourist destination is also compromised which in turn threatens economic well being since these resources are depended upon to support Grenadas main industry. World chamfer Statistics (2008) shows that Grenada currently has 3 mammals and three plant species that are threatened. The Caribbean region and by extension Grenada has been listed as one of the top hotspots for endemic species worldwide, yet the Caribbean retains only 11.3% of its primary vegetation (Myers et al, 2000). This exemplifi es the lack of concern for the environment and how development has been allowed to importantly contribute to the reduction of our natural resources. According to Gardiner (2009), ever form of life on this planet does not stand on its own but is supported by, and supports, other living things. He further goes on to state that to lose one species is equivalent to losing an important part of the ecosystem. This therefore underscores what is at stake if these mammal and plant species identified by the World Bank as being peril in Grenada are allowed to become extinct. As a result, both environmental and economic vulnerability of Grenada is being exacerbated by unsustainable development.Another very important aspect of sustainable development is heathenish sustainability. According to McKercher (2003), cultural sustainability increases peoples control over their lives and is compatible with the culture and determine of those affected and strengthen the community identity. Grenadas hi story of colonialism has created a very strange and diverse culture and history which serves to enhance its marketability as a tourist destination. Colonialism has facilitated a movement of people to the Caribbean and by extension Grenada from Africa and Asia with has greatly influenced the formation of the culture through the mixture of experiences from these different Diasporas (Smyth, 2010). Carnival, Parang, Maroon festival, Folklore, string pot music, big drum dancing and patois are a few of the cultural aspects of Grenada that adds to the attractiveness of the tourism product (Joseph, 2010). Although tourism could serve to beef up the preservation and conservation of heritage and traditions, it can also degrade the cultural environment through the commercialization of the culture, religion and arts (Joseph, 2009). Many observers trust that tourism has negatively impacted the Grenadian culture and society.According to McKercher (2003), cultural sustainability should guarant ee the protection of nature, local and the indigenous cultures and especially traditional knowledge.One of the signalise ways in which tourism negatively impacts society is through the counterpoint lifestyles and ideas between the tourist and the locals. In the Grenadian context, the locals try to imitate these lifestyles and ideas which become to a dilution of the culture and value systems on the island. This in turn increases social problems such as theft and prostitution, and increased alcohol and drug use. In addition, the divisions between the tourist and the local population can cause a lot of tension. This tension arises from the fact that small communities where poverty, unemployment and overcrowding are pervasive are sometimes located near to hotels and other developments specifically designated for the tourist. As a result, locals become aggravated since they feel a sense of inequality in their own country. Sometime locals are even displaced in order to lenify a touris t. This was exemplified during the development of the Port Louis project where many of the locals were relocated to La Sagesse in St. Davids in order to make room for the villas. In this lineament the new development was once where the locals depended on their livelihood through fishing. topical anesthetic sustainability is also a key aspect of sustainable development. According to McKercher (2010), local sustainability should be designed to benefit the local communities and generate and retain income in those communities. The provision of quality employment to community residents and the equitable distribution of financial benefits throughout the supply chain are identified as being important aspects of local sustainability. Local industries such as farming and fishing should employ sustainable practices, which should also be developed to meet the needs of the tourist. This could in turn minimize the effects of leakage. Many of the goods used by the tourism industry are bought out side of the country because many times the local suppliers cannot adequately meet demand or provide the overcompensate quality. A locally sustainable approach would provide incentives and training to local suppliers (farmers, craftsmen, fishermen etc.) to improve their standards and also to find other avenues to benefit from tourism. The Gouyave fish Friday is an example of how a local fishing community was able to benefit from tourism not by directly supplying to the hotels but through their own initiative and thus directly benefiting. However, Tourism puts added strain on local industries such as fishing and farming, therefore, a sustainable approach must be employed in order to ensure that the locals play along to benefit. The Levera polo-neck protection group is another example of how the locals were diverted from exploiting the turtle, by cleanup spot them for meat, to protecting them. This is more sustainable because a protected turtle will be around for a longer period to generate income for the locals, whereas the previous approach would have eventually resulted in them becoming extinct.The importance of sustainable tourism in the context of Grenada must be emphasized since the benefits that can be derived from it are numerous. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (1999) further underscore this point by stating that the sustainable development of tourism is of importance for all countries, in particular for Small Island Developing States. The economic, environmental, cultural and local security of Grenada is at stake if sustainable development is not adequately adopted in Grenadas approach towards tourism. If a sustainable approach is not employed there is much at stake. The cost of repairing restitution to the marine as well as the terrestrial environment could put added strain on the economy. Also, at stake is possibility of loss of endangered plant and mammal life and biodiversity. The country will also continue to experi ence and increased state of vulnerability towards the effects of climate change since according to AOSIS (2009), climate change poses the most serious threat to our excerpt and viability and that it undermines our efforts to achieve sustainable developmental goals and threatens our very existence. Also at stake is the degradation of Grenadas culture and traditions. Nettleford (1977) emphasizes the importance of culture by stating that the issue of cultural identity is of great significanceand as such should be tempered with the same level of importance as economic self sufficiency. In addition, the welfare of the local population could be significantly compromised since there is a possibility of increased poverty. The Brundtland Report (1987) stresses that poverty reduces peoples capacity to utilize resources in a sustainable manner which intensifies the mount of pressure placed on the environment. Therefore, every aspect of life in Grenada can be affected if a sustainable approach to tourism in not like a shot employed.Therefore it can be concluded that, since tourism is such an entire part of Grenadas economy, if a sustainable approach is adopted it can significantly contribute to environmental protection, conservation and restoration of biological diversity and the sustainable utilization of natural resources (UNEP, 2003). A sustainable approach to tourism in Grenada should employ a holistic approach encompassing the economic, environmental, cultural and local aspects since all these different segments of the country serve to benefit. The adaptation of a sustainable approach in the economic sense would improve the diversity and functionality of the sector while at the same time providing a wide range of economic benefits. The goods and services provided by the environment will be preserve through ecological sustainability. Cultural sustainability would serve to promote the preservation and rejoicing of the local culture and beliefs. And, local sustaina bility provides the locals with rewarding and immediate work and income opportunities. Consequently, ever aspect of life would be positively impacted and the Small Island Developing State of Grenada could secure a more viable future.