“Is tourism an appropriate development for LEDC’S”

For an LEDC that had tourism as a large percentage for its GDP I studied Jamaica in the Caribbean. Jamaica receives roughly 20% of its GDP from tourism; this is because many types of people come to Jamaica as a holiday destination for different reasons. For example; people go for a relaxing holiday on the beaches of Montego Bay and others many go to experience the history, culture and wildlife that the tropical island has to offer. The Jamaican people will use the money brought in by tourism on things like; education, health and public services and infrastructure. The tourist industry can provide wage and opportunities for the locals and is a valuable source of foreign income; furthermore tourists bring wealth to the country. The main threat that tourism in Jamaica brings is Economic Leakage. This is when many large businesses are owned by foreign companies e.g. Sandals, which means Jamaica’s economy can lose a lot of money, and little profit is gained by Jamaica and the people. Also some of the higher skilled staff are foreign and they send their wages abroad. There is a way to beat Economic Leakage, which is called Responsible Tourism; this is when tourists ensure that more of their money is going into Jamaica’s GDP and not to large foreign companies. You could do this by; travelling by Caribbean Airlines, eating in local restaurants, staying in a rented house/villa and even using the local shops for essential goods or souvenirs. By doing this will ensure that the most money possible is going to Jamaica’s tourism and not other companies.