Abstract
This article, Charting the Course for Sustainable Small Island Tourist Development, addresses sustainability criteria for small island tourist development drawing on the history of development in the last decade in the Bocas del Toro archipelago of the Republic of Panama in the Caribbean Sea near the border of Costa Rica. Tax deferments for the development of vacation and resort properties spurred a boom in this island locale since the late 1980’s. Tourist Law 8 of the Panamanian constitution is referenced. Sustainability criteria of water supply and availability are suggested and outer island projects are discussed. Lessons are outlined and recommendations are made for permit qualifications that promote sustainable small island tourist development.
Highlights
A general understanding of sustainable development is that which does not compromise the ability of future generations to “sustain” their quality of life similar to the pre-development quality the area has to offer
This article, Charting the Course for Sustainable Small Island Tourist Development, addresses sustainability criteria for small island tourist development drawing on the history of development in the last decade in the Bocas del Toro archipelago of the Republic of Panama in the Caribbean Sea near the border of Costa Rica
Lessons are outlined and recommendations are made for permit qualifications that promote sustainable small island tourist development
Summary
A general understanding of sustainable development is that which does not compromise the ability of future generations to “sustain” their quality of life similar to the pre-development quality the area has to offer. Doesn’t development by its very nature degrade some aspects of an area while offering new and different benefits to present and future generations? This is true when applied to development in highly sensitive and fragile island environments with limited fresh water, land vulnerable to the vagaries of ocean tides and sea levels and depletion and renewal of native flora and fauna, especially of the rainforested islands, that are ancient and take decades to renew if de-forested for precious hardwoods [1] How realistic is that? Doesn’t development by its very nature degrade some aspects of an area while offering new and different benefits to present and future generations? This is true when applied to development in highly sensitive and fragile island environments with limited fresh water, land vulnerable to the vagaries of ocean tides and sea levels and depletion and renewal of native flora and fauna, especially of the rainforested islands, that are ancient and take decades to renew if de-forested for precious hardwoods [1]
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