Web-Based Discussion Forums

Exchanges of experience and opinion within the Small Islands Voice initiative have addressed diverse aspects of tourism development in small island settings, including qualitative differences between local and foreign investments in tourism infrastructures, the 'self-destruct theory of tourism', the social effects of tourism, viewing tourism as a cultural experience, conservation and tourism, and mass market versus up-scale tourism. Among the discussion threads centred on tourism was that on 'Tourism—For Whose Benefit?', which generated much interest during the first few months of 2007. Starting with observations on the tourism industry in the Caribbean islands, the debate ranged widely, with experiences and opinions covering all oceanic regions and subjects ranging from racial and income divide to ownership and policy issues. Tourism-related issues have discussed on the Small Islands Voice (SIV) Youth Forum (username: 'siv' password: 'youth'). One 2006 discussion thread on ecotourism led off with a plan for island sustainability proposed by pupils at Hope Town School in the Bahamas. Over 30 follow-up contributors included young people from elsewhere in the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Fiji, Maldives, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Seychelles. Tourism in small islands also featured in an earlier web-based forum on Wise Coastal Practices.