ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses some of the possible impacts of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) on the Caribbean economies, with particular emphasis on the tourism sector. It suggests an alternative to the current tourism development model that is being pursued within the region. The travel and tourism industry is one of the world's largest sectors and a major employer. A number of writers have suggested that the problem with Caribbean tourism is that it is largely unplanned and used simply as a quick way of earning foreign exchange for the governments' coffers. A regional approach to tourism planning would allow CARICOM countries to pool resources and market the tourism product with more diverse features than would be the case if countries were marketed individually. A regional approach to tourism planning would allow CARICOM countries to pool resources and market the tourism product with more diverse features than would be the case if countries were marketed individually.
