ABSTRACT
Leisure, as a tip of the triangle of life activities (dwelling-work-leisure), has been fast gaining in importance in recent years. Tourism and travel (T&T) is the world’s fastest growing industry. Its contribution is soon expected to approach US$5 trillion or oneeighth of the world Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to turn of the century forecasts from the World Tourism Organization, the number of international tourist arrivals is expected to reach 937 million by the year 2010 and 1600 million by 2020. Tropical regions will record the biggest growth. In a group of countries enjoying warm (subtropical and tropical) types of climate, tourism industries become increasingly important sectors of their economies. For quite a few of these countries, development of tourism and recreation services is a vital part of their survival strategies during cyclical periods of economic downturn. Tourism already generates 95 per cent of GDP in theMaldives and 75 per cent of export earnings in the Bahamas. Such growth in tourism is matched with a growing need for infrastructure and facilities, and this is where the problems start appearing. While tourism, no doubt, represents a huge stimulus to the global (and local) economy, it will also have a lasting impact on the global (and local) environment. Figure 1.3.
