Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

The current trends of travel and tourism are subjected to complex behaviour systems. New segments of travellers, related to tourist destinations by bonds of identity, origin and familiarity, are positioned in the travel and tourism market, as a result of the migratory mobility. The migration towards the developed countries, mostly the United States and other tourist outbound markets for the Caribbean, becomes one of the social phenomena of greater impact for the Caribbean countries. If in the last two decades the Caribbean emigration settled, in greater or smaller scale, in the developed countries, which at the same time constitute the main tourist outbound markets; from now on, they are able to integrate a segment of travellers, who are in the position to make greater expenses in the destinations they visit, that is, their countries of origin. The international migration presents a remarkable increase and is characterized by diverse demographic effects and world-wide mobility, affecting the international tourist flows. This article refers to a segment that will constitute in the next years the main outbound market for each country involved; and at the same time, the greater source of tourist income for the destination, since it does not incur in important expenses with the international operators. This segment will demand new domestic products when visiting its country of origin, and undoubtedly will become the main tourist market, generating important income for many of the countries of the Caribbean.

The metaphor of the "Three Cs" (context, character- istics, and consequences) is employed to derive a framework around which to view the phenomenon of tourism. Each element is closely related to the others, and each is affected by and embedded within the others. As an ensemble, the Three Cs determine the configuration of tourism at particular destinations. It is a simple yet analytically powerful mechanism that brings a multi-disciplinary approach to the analysis of tourism problems, enabling a more nuanced understanding of international tourism issues and challenges. The paper attempts to make two points. First, the tourism style or character in a given destination is a function of a complex interrelated set of macro socio-economic and historical forces -the contexts- that differ from destination to destination (or island to island). Second, the interplay between the contexts  and  characteristics  largely defines the consequences or results that are observed, both positive and negative. To illustrate the Three Cs approach, contrasting analyses were made between the Dominican Republic and the Turks and Caicos, with extensions to Cuba. We suggest the Three Cs model is sufficiently broad to fit a variety of destinations and can result in better regional policy conclusions.

The main objective of this paper is to analyze the contribution of tourism to economic growth in Central American and selected Caribbean countries (The Bahamas, Dominica, Dominican Republic and Saint Lucia). Following recent methodology presented by Ivanov and Webster (2007), this paper will utilize the rate of growth of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita as a measure of economic growth. This will then be disaggregated into a growth component attributable to tourism and a second growth component generated by the other industries of the economy. This methodology, wich has the characteristic of generating a performance measure of tourism's past contribution to economic growth, will be applied to the period 1990-2007. The results are compared with those of a group of developed destinations including Spain, France, Italy, UK and USA. The comparison between the two groups shows that the tourism contribution to GDP is higher in general for the developed group but it is not associated necessarily with a greater contribution to the economy's growth. 

This article is a study of several aspects related to the Eco-archaeological park of Xcaret, in the tourist region of the Mayan Riviera, Mexico. First of all, the ability to recycle and reconstruct the local environment for tourism. Second, the use of a cultural heritage as a thematic excuse. Third, the business model of Xcaret and the entrepreneurial collective around Xcaret that focuses on the values of sustainability and a comunication policy as strategies for tourist attraction.

The creation of existential spaces, as part of the fabric of environmental history, is seen clearly in the accounts of the Caribbean coast of Mexico, today’s state of Quintana Roo, known as the ‘Mayan Riviera’. Over time we see: first, a ‘wilderness’, discovered by archaeologists, second, a ‘natural resource’ frontier of chicle extraction for the manufacture of chewing gum, third, an commodity, as theme park, leisure complex and cruise liner. The paper leads us to question ‘space’ and ‘place’ within the lexicon of global tourism, and to suggest the importance of historical context in explaining the consumption of space. Key Words: Tourist pioneers, Mexico, consumption of space, ‘Mayan Riviera’.

Is information about the nature, location and incidence of crimes against tourists/visitors sufficient to develop meaningful visitor safety and security policy? Are the views of key tourism stakeholder groups useful in informing and enhancing visitor safety and security policy? To answer these questions, this study analyzes 24 years of recorded crime data against visitors to Barbados and survey data of key tourism stakeholder groups and concludes: 1) that information about the nature, location and incidence of crimes against visitors is necessary but not sufficient to inform visitor safety and security policy; and 2) that the views and input of key stakeholders are essential if destinations are to become more effective in enhancing visitor safety and security. 

On 1st December 2007, the Law 21/1995 of 6th July, which regulates package holidays by the Royal Decree 1/2007, was abolished. This Royal Decree (Spain) merges in a single text the General Law for the Protection of Consumers and Users and the transposition standards of EU directives issued regarding the protection of consumers and users, among which is the Law of Combined Travel. But there have also been changes which will entail a significant impact on the day-to day running of travel agencies.

The objective analysis of the permanent formation of human resources requires not departing from the present conditions in which the world develops, where the progress of neoliberal policies, globalization and the vertiginous advance of the scientific-technical and technological revolution demands that the training of Professionals, is subject to continuous transformation. This article responds to the need to increase the preparation of file managers and technicians of the municipal institutions of Pinar del Rio, from the perfection of the training process in documentary management, which allows them to develop archival skills in their professional performance. It explains theoretical and conceptual considerations that allow to understand the significance of the training of these subjects as a strategic factor in the labor entities, as well as to refer to the existing trends in the national scope, based on the study and assessment of literature related to the theme, which can contribute to the design and implementation of training alternatives, according to the characteristics and particularities of the context in which they are used. The training of professionals is a process that is an essential way to increase the preparation in document management of the managers and architects of the institutions for their professional performance. The Cuban experience in the preparation and training of archival managers and technicians has shown, from a trend analysis that it is possible the development of archival skills in their professional performance, as long as the

Tourism is an activity of major economic importance. In 2009 it exported 2,700 million dollars a day. That same year, international tourism experienced a decline in arrivals of 4.2 per cent. It is the highest decrease recorded since 1950. International tourism has previously decreased only three times: 1982 (-0.1%), 1991 (-0.3%) and 2003 (-1.5%). It is a significant correction to the trend that international tourism has been experiencing in a sustained way. Tourism is vulnerable, but resilient. Going back to the historical growth path in which tourism was placed will take time and will certainly require renewed management criteria. The economic and social framework which has been taken shape in recent months creates a new environment that requires, more than ever, a reflection on the course tourism development should follow. The year 2008 showed a turning point in the mid-year. In its first six months, international tourism grew by 6 percent, but declined in subsequent months. 2009 consolidated the decline of international tourism in all regions except Africa. Preliminary data show the resilience and, in many cases, the growth of domestic tourism. Tourists continued to travel but closer to home and adopted more conservative expenditure behaviour. By 2010 the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) expects international demand to grow by 4% or even some more. The market has become more rigid, much more competitive and more dependent on local markets as well as on some emerging ones. This article deals with current characteristics of tourism and examines its evolution between 2008 and 2010, with emphasis on the Caribbean. 

Tour operators are the key elements in the tourism system; they are the link between the tourist and the destination. As a result, tour operators are in many ways the key to achieving more sustainable forms of tourism. This study aims at examining the actual experience of tour operators who adopted sustainability practices in their business with the purposes of: 1) Identifying the priority implementation areas; 2) Determining the most important motivators which encourage tour operators to adopt more responsible strategies; 3) Exploring the outcomes and benefits as well as the major obstacles and barriers that deter the integration of sustainability strategies in the tour operator business. For this study 32 tour operators have been investigated. In addition, in-depth interviews with stakeholders from destinations were conducted to reflect their experience. Results revealed that “Supply Chain Management” has the priority for tour operators during the implementation of sustainable practices. “Building Positive Public Image” is the main reason for implementing sustainability integration in business. The results also outline many benefits for both tour operators and destinations. However, both are encountering a number of barriers that hinder them from applying sustainable principles in the tour operator business on a large scale with more efficiency.