The Caribbean’s Geotourism Potential and Challenges: A Focus on Two Islands in the Region

Colmore Christian

doi:10.3390/geosciences8080273

Abstract

Geotourism is a relatively new concept in the tourism industry, a concept which apparently has not yet been formally embraced by Caribbean destinations. This paper, based primarily on a literature review supplemented by the first-hand knowledge of the author, who served for over a decade in the natural resource management and tourism sectors in the region, identifies some of the geotourism assets and assesses the geotourism potential of two selected Caribbean islands, namely the Commonwealth of Dominica and St. Lucia. Indications are that the islands of the region have outstanding geological formations, dormant and active volcanic zones and associated geomorphological features, and breath-taking terrestrial and marine landscapes, including deep river gorges and tall mountains, and beautiful beaches, which together constitute important geotourism assets. Currently, these resources are marketed and promoted as part of the region’s nature tourism attractions. The feasibility of incorporating geotourism as a component of this overall nature tourism thrust is explored in this paper. As a follow-up to this study a survey of tourism officials, natural resource professionals, and selected scientists of the region is proposed for the purpose of identifying the reasons and constraints preventing the Caribbean region from formally embracing geotourism, developing and promoting the geotourism resources of the region as a unique component of the overall tourism product.

Highlights

There is a diversity and abundance of geological, volcanic, geomorphological, and seismic sites distributed throughout the Caribbean archipelago. These natural sites have captured the interest and imagination of residents and have captivated the attention and curiosity of visitors to the region. These sites have neither been formally identified as geotourism assets nor marketed and promoted as such by regional tourism authorities, many of these sites currently form the basis of the ‘nature tourism’ thrust in the region
If we accept the premise that the focus of geotourism is on ‘geological’, ‘geomorphological’, ‘geography’ and ‘overall landscape’ features, there is no doubt that the Caribbean region, and the OECS sub-region in particular, has the resource base to support geotourism
Success in geotourism will require the building of regional support and coordination

Summary

Introduction

There is a diversity and abundance of geological, volcanic, geomorphological, and seismic sites distributed throughout the Caribbean archipelago. These natural sites have captured the interest and imagination of residents and have captivated the attention and curiosity of visitors to the region. These sites have neither been formally identified as geotourism assets nor marketed and promoted as such by regional tourism authorities, many of these sites currently form the basis of the ‘nature tourism’ thrust in the region.

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion