Environmental regulations and their effect on innovation and competitiveness in tourism in Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the need for innovation in Caribbean tourism with stringent (mandatory) environmental regulations as the key driver of the process. It draws examples from three destinations, Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica.

Design/methodology/approach

This assessment entailed a review of the literature on the key issues. Theories on innovation, regulations and competitiveness were examined in brief. The paper also presents an overview of Caribbean tourism to provide context. Of note is the dearth of information on the drivers of innovation and its effect on the Caribbean tourism industry which was a major limitation of this assessment.

Findings

The main implication of this review is that it attempts to highlight the need for discourse on the effective use of environmental regulations to influence the behaviour of industry operatives towards achieving sustainable tourism. Within the context of climate change and the threat that this poses to Caribbean tourism, there is the critical need for this discourse. Consideration is also given to the value stringency of regulation since it is theorised that, if applied correctly, this may be the impetus to drive businesses to innovate to be competitive.

Originality/value

This is a novel approach to the management of the tourism industry which has shown a preference for self-regulation. Given the proposed outcome, the paper advocates mandatory, stringent regulations since self-regulation is a choice left solely to the industry operatives.

Citation

Huntley Lewis, E.O. (2019), "Environmental regulations and their effect on innovation and competitiveness in tourism in Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 147-154. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-12-2018-0085