HIV and transportable diseases : impact on the tourism sector

Abstract

Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner in the Caribbean. It is an important source of employment and income for Caribbean people. Employment comes in various ways- from direct dependence on the tourism industry, such as working in hotels and on the beaches, to indirect involvement through areas including banking and farming. For large numbers of tourists, the Caribbean is viewed mainly as a source of pleasure, an escape from the realities of everyday life , a place that offers 'sun , sea and sand'. For many decades the Caribbean has attracted many visitors from all over the world to it's shores, especially from North America and Europe. However, for a variety of reasons, there are now questions about the impact and sustainability of the tourism industry in the region. One such concern arises from the fact that there is an increasing amount of research which makes the link between the spread of HIV/AIDS and the growth of tourism. This documentary examines a number of risk factors which point to a link between tourism and the spread of HIV/AIDS in Jamaica and the Bahamas. While the study has not been able to establish a direct quantitative cause and effect link between tourism and the spread of HIV/AIDS, the findings point to a strong connection between HIV/AIDS, and tourism, based on a number of behavioural risk factors..... read more