Tourism and Development
How the growth of tourism in Jamaica can help close the development gap: the foreign income and jobs it brings, the multiplier effect that spreads the money, and the limits and drawbacks that mean not everyone benefits equally.
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Tourism as a way to develop
Jamaica is a Caribbean island whose warm climate and beaches draw many tourists, and tourism has become a major way to help close its development gap. Visitors bring foreign income into the country, create jobs in hotels and services, and their spending spreads through the economy in what is called the multiplier effect, letting the government invest in roads, schools and healthcare. But the benefits are not shared equally: many jobs are seasonal and low paid, some profits leave the country to foreign owners, and tourism can damage the environment. This module weighs both sides.
Tourism words
Learn these before you weigh tourism, and be ready to say who really benefits.
The benefits against the limits
Tourism is not simply good for a developing country. A strong answer sets its gains against its drawbacks.
How to judge tourism
Do not just say tourism is good. Ask who really gains and whether it can last. Money spent by visitors can create jobs and let a government build roads and schools, which helps local people. But if the hotels are foreign owned much of the profit leaves the country, and if the work is seasonal and poorly paid the gains are thin. Weigh the income and jobs against the leakage of profit and the harm to the environment, and reach a balanced view.
Match the idea to what it means
- foreign income
- tourism jobs
- investment in infrastructure
- the multiplier effect
- money brought in by visitors from abroad
- work in hotels, transport and services
- better roads, airports and water supply
- tourist spending spreading through the economy
How does the multiplier effect help?
A tourist pays for a hotel room, and the hotel then buys food from local farms and pays local staff. Which idea does this show?
- The multiplier effect, as spending spreads through the economy.
- Profit leakage abroad.
- Seasonal unemployment.
- Coastal erosion.
Benefits of tourism
Select the TWO ways tourism can help reduce the development gap in Jamaica.
- It brings foreign income into the country
- It creates jobs in hotels and services
- It removes all jobs from the island
- It stops any money entering the country
Count the local jobs
A new resort creates 40 jobs, and 25 of them are taken by local people. Subtract to find how many of the jobs are not held by local people. What is the answer?
Order the multiplier chain
Put the steps of the tourism multiplier effect in order, earliest first.
- Tourists visit and spend money
- Jobs and local businesses grow
- The government collects more tax
- It invests in roads, schools and healthcare
Complete the facts
Visitors bring valuable foreign _____ into Jamaica. Their spending spreads through the economy in the _____ effect. Some of this money lets the government improve _____ such as roads and airports. A drawback is that many tourism jobs are _____ and low paid.
Sort each point into benefit or limit
- foreign income funds new roads
- hotels employ local people
- profits go to a foreign hotel chain
- building resorts damages the coast
- a benefit that helps the whole country
- a benefit for local families
- a limit, as money leaves the country
- a limit, as the environment is harmed
Spot the true tourism facts
Tap the TWO statements that are true about tourism and development in Jamaica.
- Tourism brings foreign income and jobs
- The multiplier effect spreads tourist spending
- Everyone benefits from tourism equally
- Tourism never causes any environmental harm
Judge the impact
Read each case and choose the best answer.
- A resort hires local staff and buys food from nearby farms, so the money reaches many islanders. Is this mainly a benefit or a limit?
- A large hotel is owned by a foreign company that sends most of its profit overseas. Why does this reduce the benefit to Jamaica?
- A student writes that tourism is simply good for Jamaica with no downsides. Why is this a weak answer?
Explain tourism and development
Using Jamaica, explain how tourism can help reduce the development gap and judge how far it genuinely benefits local people.
- Explain two ways tourism brings money and jobs to Jamaica
- Explain the multiplier effect and how it helps
- Explain two limits or drawbacks of relying on tourism
- Explain why foreign ownership can reduce the benefit
- Finish with a judgement on how far tourism helps local people