The state and tourism: a Caribbean perspective

Tourism, today, has not only emerged as the engine of growth but also become the largest and the fastest growing sector in the Caribbean. For this reason the industry is now viewed as one of the leading instruments of development in the region. Given the importance of the industry, it is incumbent on governments to orient tourism growth towards meeting the socioeconomic needs and environmental requirements of the region. To meet these objectives, however, regional governments are required to play a greater role in directing and shaping the future development of the industry. This paper strongly argues in favour of a greater role in the industry, both through direct and indirect market intervention, by governments of the region.