Tourist Cruise Ships and the Trade in Services: Recent Trends in Countries of the Caribbean Basin

This issue of the Bulletin reviews the main trends of trade in goods and services for the countries of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in 2004. The strong recovery of trade in goods and the robust expansion of trade in services are highlighted, emphasizing the increase in services as a proportion of total exports for the smaller Caribbean economies, which may even exceed 80%.A detailed analysis of the performance of the tourism component, especially travel, showed that in 2004 there was a boom in cruise ship arrivals, a situation which poses a real challenge for some islands in terms of ensuring a permanent flow of tourists and making use of the main comparative advantages -sun, sea and beaches- and possible linkages with the rest of the economy such as the hotel industry, restaurants, business and entertainment centres, guided excursions, transport, yachting, and others. In some islands, the ratio of cruise passengers to inhabitants is particularly high, and can reach a significant factor of about 11 tourists for every inhabitant in the Bahamas, 8 in Aruba, 7 in Antigua and Barbuda and 5 in Dominica, and around 4 for a sample of eleven countries.One of the main challenges for a number of Caribbean islands is how to capitalize on such linkages by developing sustainable tourism that minimizes the possible adverse impacts on the environment and the everyday life of the citizens.

Tourist cruises in South America: new opportunities and challenges

More free time and disposable income not only in developed but also in emerging countries have generated a demand that shipping lines have capitalized on by offering ocean cruise services to an exponentially growing segment of the tourist industry. With the search for alternative destinations for ocean cruises, in recent years the Southern Cone countries of Latin America have been playing host to an encouraging number of passenger ships during the summer November-March season, suggesting that this sub-region could become a permanent feature of the circuit of international ocean cruises. To convert this into a reality, however, will require investment in port facilities and passenger terminals, thus presenting an opportunity for private participation in providing and running these facilities.

Climate change and challenges for tourism in Central America

Incluye Bibliografía

An assessment of the economic impact of climate change on the tourism sector in Montserrat

This report provides an analysis and evaluation of the likely effects of climate change on the tourism sector in Montserrat. Clayton (2009) identifies three reasons why the Caribbean should be concerned about the potential effects of climate change on tourism: (a) the relatively high dependence on tourism as a source of foreign exchange and employment; (b) the intrinsic vulnerability of small islands and their infrastructure (e.g. hotels and resorts) to sea level rise and extreme climatic events (e.g. hurricanes and floods); and, (c) the high dependence of the regional tourist industry on carbon-based fuels (both to bring tourist to the region as well as to provide support services in the region). The effects of climate change are already being felt on the island. Between 1970 and 2009, there was a rise in the number of relatively hot days experienced on the island. Added to this, there was also a decline in mean precipitation over the period. Besides temperature, there is also the threat of wind speeds. Since the early 20th century, the number of hurricanes passing through the Caribbean has risen from about 5-6 per year to more than 25 in some years of the twenty-first century. In Montserrat, the estimated damage from four windstorms (including hurricanes) affecting the island was US$260 million or almost five times 2009 gross domestic product (GDP). Climate change is also likely to significantly affect coral reefs. Hoegh-Guldberg (2007) estimates that should current concentrations of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere rise from 380ppm to 560ppm, decreases in coral calcification and growth by 40% are likely. The report attempted to quantify the likely effects of the changes in the climatic factors mentioned above. As it relates to temperature and other climatic variables, a tourism climatic index that captures the elements of climate that impact on a destination’s experience was constructed. The index was calculated using historical observations as well as those under two likely climate scenarios: A2 and B2. The results suggest that under both scenarios, the island’s key tourism climatic features will likely decline and therefore negatively impact on the destination experience of visitors. Including this tourism climatic index in a tourism demand model suggests that this would translate into losses of around 145% of GDP. As it relates to coral reefs, the value of the damage due to the loss of coral reefs was estimated at 7.6 times GDP, while the damage due to land loss for the tourism industry was 45% of GDP. The total cost of climate change for the tourism industry was therefore projected to be 9.6 times 2009 GDP over a 40-year horizon. Given the potential for significant damage to the industry, a large number of potential adaptation measures were considered. Out of these, a short-list of 9 potential options was selected using 10 evaluation criteria. These included: (a) Increasing recommended design wind speeds for new tourism-related structures; (b) Construction of water storage tanks; (c) Irrigation network that allows for the recycling of waste water; (d) Enhanced reef monitoring systems to provide early warning alerts of bleaching events; (e) Deployment of artificial reefs and fish-aggregating devices; (f) Developing national evacuation and rescue plans; (g) Introduction of alternative attractions; (h) Providing re-training for displaced tourism workers, and; (i) Revised policies related to financing national tourism offices to accommodate the new climatic realities Using cost-benefit analysis, three options were put forward as being financially viable and ready for immediate implementation: (a) Increase recommended design speeds for new tourism-related structures; (b) Enhance reef monitoring systems to provide early warning alerts of bleaching events, and; (c) Deploy artificial reefs or fish-aggregating devices. While these options had positive benefit cost ratios, other options were also recommended based on their non-tangible benefits: an irrigation network that allows for the recycling of waste water, development of national evacuation and rescue plans, providing retraining for displaced tourism workers and the revision of policies related to financing national tourism offices to accommodate the new climatic realities.

A geologia e a geoespeleologia como instrumentos de planejamento para o desenvolvimento do turismo: o caso de São Jerônimo da Serra-PR

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Integração de informações geológicas para o geoturismo na Bacia do Rio Corumbataí e sua divulgação na Web através do Mapserver

A bacia hidrográfica do Rio Corumbataí, no setor centro oriental do Estado de São Paulo, está inteiramente contida no domínio morfológico da Depressão Periférica Paulista. Nos limites norte, noroeste e oeste, as escarpas arenito-basálticas, as cuestas de derrames basálticos e o Planalto Ocidental Paulista contribuem para a existência de diversas paisagens de beleza cênica. A diversidade geológica da região condiciona parcialmente o seu relevo e guarda registros litológicos e paleontológicos que constituem atrativos geoturísticos. O avanço do conhecimento geocientífico obtido principalmente nas universidades pouco alcança o público em geral devido à especialização dos termos utilizados. Aproveitando a aptidão turística e a diversidade geológica da região propõe-se utilizar o geoturismo como um meio de difusão de conhecimento científico e aumentar o interesse da população para suas riquezas naturais. Para tanto, foram selecionados 16 locais representativos da geologia da área que podem ser utilizados para a prática do geoturismo, sobre os quais foram elaborados textos explicativos em linguagem simplificada. Os textos foram associados a fotografias de afloramentos, figuras e mapas geológicos em um ambiente SIG. Para permitir o amplo e fácil acesso ao público, inclusive de estudantes, órgãos públicos e empresas ligadas ao ramo do turismo, todo este material foi disponibilizado na Internet através da ferramenta Mapserver e Maplab.

How does tourist monitoring alter fish behavior in underwater trails?

Nature based tourism is becoming more popular because it is perceived as a solution to the conflict between conservation and economic exploitation. Nevertheless, it is known to cause several effects. This paper reports findings whereby monitored tourism avoids triggering adverse effects for social cichlid fish species, Crenicichla lepidota. Measures used included aggression toward territorial intruders and the number of nests built in pristine reference areas for monitored and in non-monitored tourist areas. We observed suppressed aggressive behavior and suppressed nesting only in the non-monitored area. We conclude that by monitoring visits, and using techniques including avoiding stepping on the river bed, reducing the number of visitors, prohibiting fish feeding and protecting riparian vegetation, it is possible to avoid the enduring damage caused by nature tourism. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

O turismo como alternativa de renda no município de Rancharia

This present work talk about the tourism and the historic evolution of this conception, also it brings some thoughts about the increase of the tourism activity in the all around the world. The territorial slash study is in Rancharia, the research the shows aspect of localization, description, natural and socials. During this work was introduced a study about the most important programs and projects that were initiate in the country by the public authorities with the focus in the tourism development, and also was noted the current tendency in the formation of intermunicipal consortium that has the aim to develop the activity of the regional tourism. It was presented the mains tourism attractions in the municipal district, such as, municipal watering- place. To develop this current work it was made some researches by the application of a formulary to the tourist, and the interview was made by representatives of the private and public sector, which was exposed their vision about the activity tourism development and the importance of the municipal district participation in the public politics that is turned to the tourism. The work concludes that the tourism activity could come to turn one alternative of job and lacework to the city, but is necessary that develop it in the base of the local tourism, that brings benefits to all the community involved in this process

O turismo e a paisagem natural e cultural do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar - Núcleo Santa Virgínia

Tourism represents a socio-economic activity to generate local and regional development and at the same time contribute to the valuation and conservation of natural and cultural landscape. From this premise, we believe that the study area - PESM – Núcleo Santa Virginia and surroundings - has a great tourism potential, which can be further explored through public policies that value and at the same time assist the conservation of the natural and cultural landscape of the region. Therefore, this project, which arises from a research project conducted by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) in partnership with the Forestry Institute (IF), analyzes the possibilities and limitations of the attractions and tourist activities in areas of intensive, extensive use and around this area. Through literature research and application of semi-structured questionnaires to the main agents of local tourism important information for the characterization of tourism activities in the study area were obtained, as well as to identify gaps in planning instruments and management about PESM - Núcleo Santa Virginia. Through this diagnosis, we intend to provide support for the development of tourism in Núcleo Santa Virginia and its surrounding area, seeking to conserve natural and cultural heritage and improving the quality of life of local people

Speleoclimate dynamics in Santana Cave (PETAR, S(a)over-tildeo Paulo State, Brazil): general characterization and implications for tourist management

Show caves provide tourists with the opportunity to have close contact with natural underground spaces. However, visitation to these places also creates a need for management measures, mainly the definition of tourist carrying capacity. The present work describes the results of climate monitoring and atmospheric profiling performed in Santana Cave (Alto Ribeira State and Tourist Park - PETAR, Brazil) between 2008 and 2011. Based on the results, distinct preliminary zones with different levels of thermal variation were identified, which classify Santana Cave as a warm trap. Two critical points along the tourist route (Cristo and Encontro Halls) were identified where the temperature of the locality increased by 1.3 degrees C when tourists were present. Air flow from the inner cave to the outside occurs during the austral summer, and the opposite flow occurs when the outside environment is colder than the air inside the cave during the austral winter. The temperature was used to establish thresholds to the tourist carrying capacity by computing the recovery time of the atmospheric conditions after the changes caused by the presence of tourists. This method suggests a maximum limit of approximately 350 visits per day to Santana Cave. The conclusion of the study is that Santana Cave has an atmosphere that is highly connected with the outside; daily variations in temperature and, to a lesser extent, in the relative humidity occur throughout the entire studied area of the cave. Therefore, the tourist carrying capacity in Santana Cave can be flexible and can be implemented based on the climate seasonality, the tourism demand and other management strategies.

Potencial geoparque do polo turístico das Águas de São Lourenço - Mato Grosso

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A importância da água para a percepção turística na bacia do rio formoso em Bonito-MS

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Progettare l'ospitalità: turismi e turisti della città contemporanea

La ricerca si pone come obbiettivo principale quello di individuare gli strumenti in grado di controllare la qualità di una progettazione specifica che risponde alle forti richieste della domanda turistica di un territorio. Parte dalle più semplici teorie che inquadrano una costante condizione dell’uomo, “il VIAGGIARE”. La ricerca si pone come primo interrogativo quello definire una “dimensione” in cui le persone viaggiano, dove il concetto fisico di spazio dedicato alla vita si è spostato come e quanto si sposta la gente. Esiste una sorta di macroluogo (destinazione) che comprende tutti gli spazi dove la gente arriva e da cui spesso riparte. Pensare all'architettura dell’ospitalità significa indagare e comprendere come la casa non è più il solo luogo dove la gente abita. La ricerca affonda le proprie tesi sull’importanza dei “luoghi” appartenenti ad un territorio e come essi debbano riappropriarsi, attraverso un percorso progettuale, della loro più stretta vocazione attrattiva. Così come si sviluppa un’architettura dello stare, si manifesta un’architettura dello spostarsi e tali architetture si confondono e si integrano ad un territorio che per sua natura è esso stesso attrattivo. L’origine terminologica di nomadismo è passaggio necessario per la comprensione di una nuova dimensione architettonica legata a concetti quali mobilità e abitare. Si indaga pertanto all’interno della letteratura “diasporica”, in cui compaiono le prime configurazioni legate alla provvisorietà e alle costruzioni “erranti”. In sintesi, dopo aver posizionato e classificato il fenomeno turistico come nuova forma dell’abitare, senza il quale non si potrebbe svolgere una completa programmazione territoriale in quanto fenomeno oramai imprescindibile, la ricerca procede con l’individuazione di un ambito inteso come strumento di indagine sulle relazioni tra le diverse categorie e “tipologie” turistiche. La Riviera Romagnola è sicuramente molto famosa per la sua ospitalità e per le imponenti infrastrutture turistiche ma a livello industriale non è meno famosa per il porto di Ravenna che costituisce un punto di riferimento logistico per lo scambio di merci e materie prime via mare, oltre che essere, in tutta la sua estensione, caso di eccellenza. La provincia di Ravenna mette insieme tutti i fattori che servono a soddisfare le Total Leisure Experience, cioè esperienze di totale appagamento durante la vacanza. Quello che emerge dalle considerazioni svolte sul territorio ravennate è che il turista moderno non va più in cerca di una vacanza monotematica, in cui stare solo in spiaggia o occuparsi esclusivamente di monumenti e cultura. La richiesta è quella di un piacere procurato da una molteplicità di elementi. Pensiamo ad un distretto turistico dove l’offerta, oltre alla spiaggia o gli itinerari culturali, è anche occasione per fare sport o fitness, per rilassarsi in luoghi sereni, per gustare o acquistare cibi tipici e, allo stesso tempo, godere degli stessi servizi che una persona può avere a disposizione nella propria casa. Il percorso, finalizzato a definire un metodo di progettazione dell’ospitalità, parte dalla acquisizione delle esperienze nazionali ed internazionali avvenute negli ultimi dieci anni. La suddetta fase di ricerca “tipologica” si è conclusa in una valutazione critica che mette in evidenza punti di forza e punti di debolezza delle esperienze prese in esame. La conclusione di questa esplorazione ha prodotto una prima stesura degli “obbiettivi concettuali” legati alla elaborazione di un modello architettonico. Il progetto di ricerca in oggetto converge sul percorso tracciato dai Fiumi Uniti in Ravenna. Tale scelta consente di prendere in considerazione un parametro che mostri fattori di continuità tra costa e città, tra turismo balneare e turismo culturale, considerato quindi come potenziale strumento di connessione tra realtà spesso omologhe o complementari, in vista di una implementazione turistica che il progetto di ricerca ha come primo tra i suoi obiettivi. Il tema dell’architettura dell’ospitalità, che in questo caso si concretizza nell’idea di sperimentare l’ALBERGO DIFFUSO, è quello che permette di evidenziare al meglio la forma specifica della cultura locale, salvandone la vocazione universale. La proposta progettuale si articola in uno studio consequenziale ed organico in grado di promuovere una riflessione originale sul tema del modulo “abitativo” nei luoghi di prossimità delle emergenze territoriali di specifico interesse, attorno alle quali la crescente affluenza di un’utenza fortemente differenziata evidenzia la necessità di nodi singolari che si prestino a soddisfare una molteplicità di usi in contesti di grande pregio.