Tourism development in small islands across the world外文翻译.docVIP

外文翻译 Tourism development in small islands across the world Material Source: Geografiska Annaler Series B: Human Geography; 2003, Vol. 85 Issue 4, p231-242, 12p, 2 Charts Author: McElroy, Jerome L. This study develops the Tourism Penetration Index and applies it to 51 islands. The results confirm the most penetrated comprise Caribbean, Mediterranean and Northern Pacific islands typified by large resorts, crowding, short stays and the replacement of man-made attractions for lost amenities. The least penetrated islands comprise mainly Pacific and Indian Ocean destinations characterized by small facilities, long stays and limited infrastructure. The intermediate islands primarily fall into two groups: Caribbean islands advancing to the high-density stage, and other destinations experiencing rapid growth and resource conflicts. The study concludes with planning implications and suggestions for further research. The postwar history of small islands has been marked by two favorable development factors: the march of decolonization and the global spread of international tourism. However, much of this growth has been overly rapid, unplanned and intrusive and has damaged insular ecosystems (Briguglio et al, 1996). In the Caribbean, tourism expansion has directly or indirectly caused deforestation and erosion of upland forests for condominium developments and road-works, as well as beach loss, lagoon pollution and reef damage from sand mining, dredging and boat anchoring (McElroy and de Albuquerque, 1998).Nearly 30% of the reefs are at high risk due to runoff and discharges of untreated municipal and hotel waste, and pollution from pleasure yachts and cruise ships (Bryant et al., 1998). Partly as a result, since 1985 fish catches are off nearly 50 percent in gross tonnage (UNEP, 1999b). Since tourism’s bio-cultural base is in decline across the island world, and because of the continued pressures from increased globalization expected for the future (UNEP, 2002),