TSTT Scientific Committee 

The lack of coordination in Tourism Policies in Latin America and the Caribbean: a critical analysis and solutions 

TSTT Scientific Committee 

TSTT Scientific Committee The lack of coordination in Tourism Policies in Latin America and the Caribbean: a critical analysis and solutions 

Tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the industries with the greatest potential to drive economic growth, generate employment and improve infrastructure. However, despite the opportunities it offers, the region faces major challenges in coordinating tourism policies. The lack of effective collaboration between countries, as well as weak initiatives by the continent's main supranational institutions, has hindered the development of sustainable and competitive tourism. This article analyzes the problems of tourism policy coordination in Latin America and the Caribbean, with specific examples of problems and a critical assessment of the lack of initiatives by regional bodies.

1. The Importance of Tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean is a region rich in natural resources, exotic landscapes, great cultural diversity and historical heritage, making it an attractive destination for international tourism. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism accounted for about 9% of total GDP in the region before the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and generated direct and indirect employment for millions of people. Countries such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Costa Rica and Argentina have managed to consolidate themselves as important global tourism destinations. However, other countries face difficulties in taking full advantage of their tourism potential due to a lack of infrastructure, security problems and, above all, a lack of coordination in the formulation and implementation of tourism policies.

2. Lack of Coordination in Tourism Policies: A Regional Problem

The lack of coordination among Latin American and Caribbean countries in the tourism sector has deep historical, political and economic roots. Although many countries have developed national strategies to promote tourism, these policies are often disconnected from an integrated regional vision. This disconnection has multiple negative consequences, including duplication of efforts, unfair competition among destinations, unsustainable development and lack of synergies in international promotion.

2.1. Unfair competition between countries

One of the main problems of lack of coordination is unfair competition between neighboring countries. Instead of collaborating to attract international tourists, many countries in the region compete with each other, offering package tours at lower prices without taking into account the long-term impact on the quality of services or the sustainability of the destinations. This type of competition not only reduces the potential income for local economies, but also encourages the development of low-cost tourism with a high environmental impact.

For example, in the Caribbean, different countries have historically competed to attract the same tourists from North America and Europe, without seeking ways to collaborate in promoting the region as a whole. This has led to an oversupply of all-inclusive resorts, which has reduced the perceived value of destinations and affected the preservation of the region's natural resources.

2.2. Lack of regional infrastructure and connectivity

The lack of coordination is also reflected in the poor connectivity and lack of regional infrastructure. Despite the geographic proximity of Latin American and Caribbean countries, travel within the region is, in many cases, more costly and complicated than travel to destinations outside the continent. The absence of regional policies to promote improved air, land and maritime connectivity between countries limits the possibility of developing regional tourism routes and multi-destination packages, which could increase the number of tourists and extend their stay in the region.

The example of the lack of coordination in connectivity is evident in Central America, where some countries have the potential to develop joint eco-tourism routes, but transportation barriers and migration policies restrict the development of seamless tourism between the two countries.

2.3. The Impact on Sustainable Tourism

Another consequence of the lack of coordination in tourism policies is the difficulty in developing sustainable tourism in the region. The lack of joint planning between the countries has resulted in the unregulated development of tourism infrastructure, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas. In many cases, the development of large tourist complexes has degraded natural ecosystems, affecting not only biodiversity, but also the local communities that depend on tourism for their livelihoods.

3. The inaction of supranational institutions in Regional Tourism

The main supranational institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean have demonstrated a notable lack of initiatives and concrete actions to promote coordination in regional tourism policies. Although there are agreements and declarations of intent on tourism, the implementation of concrete policies has been limited, which has led to a fragmentation in the continent's approach to tourism.

3.1. CELAC and its limited role

CELAC, an organization created to foster regional integration and political and economic cooperation among Latin American and Caribbean countries, has played a marginal role in the development of integrated tourism policies. Despite being an important platform for the discussion of regional issues, CELAC has failed to articulate a common strategy to promote tourism in the region. CELAC summits often focus on broader political and economic issues, leaving tourism on the back burner.

3.2. The Organization of American States (OAS) and its dispersed approach

The OAS, one of the oldest institutions in the hemisphere, has also failed to consolidate a coherent tourism policy for its member states. While the OAS has promoted initiatives in areas such as education and social development, its approach to tourism has been scattered and limited to isolated programs. For example, in 2018, the OAS launched a sustainable tourism pilot project in the Caribbean region, but lack of funding and inadequate follow-up limited its long-term impact.

3.3 The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and stalled initiatives.

The ACS, which has as one of its objectives the promotion of sustainable tourism in the Caribbean, has had a more direct focus on coordinating tourism policies, but its effectiveness has been limited by a lack of resources and political fragmentation among its member states. Despite having launched in 2014 the “Agreement for the Creation of a Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Policy”, the impact has been minimal due to lack of financial support and little coordination among member countries to implement joint policies.

4. The need for coordinated and collaborative initiatives

In order for Latin America and the Caribbean to take full advantage of its tourism potential, a radical change is needed in the way the countries of the region coordinate their tourism policies. Supranational institutions must take a more active role and encourage the creation of regulatory frameworks that facilitate cooperation between countries. Some key areas that require attention include:

The creation of a new institution dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean is an urgent necessity to address the multiple deficiencies faced by the region in this sector. This entity should have as its main objective the effective coordination of tourism policies among countries, generating synergies that will allow for better use of the region's natural, cultural and heritage resources. The new organization could focus on three key pillars: improving regional connectivity, promoting sustainable tourism and facilitating the creation of adequate infrastructure. Its mission would be not only to encourage collaboration between national governments, but also to involve the private sector, local communities and international organizations in joint projects that would boost the region's tourism competitiveness at the global level.

In addition, one of the main functions of this institution would be to create a platform to facilitate the exchange of best practices, financial and technical resources, and successful tourism development experiences in different parts of the world. It should also advocate for sustainability and the preservation of natural resources, establishing environmental and social standards to regulate the growth of tourism, with special attention to sensitive areas such as coastal zones, rainforest ecosystems and cultural heritage.

On the other hand, this entity could play a vital role in the joint international promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean as a diverse, safe and attractive region, through global marketing campaigns that highlight its natural and cultural wealth. Only such an institution, with a comprehensive vision and adequate resources, will be able to articulate a sound regional tourism strategy that promotes balanced and sustainable development.

Support for the Tourism and Society Think Tank initiative to create the Tourism Forum of the Americas is a key measure to promote sustainable and inclusive tourism development in Latin America and the Caribbean. This forum would be a space for dialogue and collaboration where governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and local communities can share ideas, best practices and generate joint solutions to the challenges facing tourism in the region. The creation of the Forum is timely, given the growing global interest in more sustainable and authentic destinations, a distinctive feature of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Tourism Forum of the Americas would not only provide a platform to coordinate tourism policies at the regional level, but would also promote innovative projects that integrate tourism with environmental conservation and social development. Through this initiative, transnational cooperation could be fostered in areas such as connectivity, tourism infrastructure, joint promotion of destinations and protection of natural resources. Furthermore, it would allow countries in the region to align themselves with global trends, such as responsible tourism and digitalization, strengthening their competitiveness in the international market.

The relevance of this Forum lies in its ability to connect key tourism stakeholders with financial, academic and technological institutions, generating innovative solutions and financing mechanisms for sustainable projects. Supporting this initiative is essential to consolidate a tourism that not only generates income and jobs, but also contributes to the preservation of cultural and natural heritage, and to the well-being of local communities. The Tourism Forum of the Americas can become the engine of a new era of tourism in the region, oriented towards a more equitable and sustainable future.

5. Conclusion

The lack of coordination in tourism policies in Latin America and the Caribbean represents a major challenge for the development of the tourism industry in the region. Countries must work together and, with the support of supranational institutions, foster a more collaborative approach that allows maximizing the tourism potential of the region. Only through greater integration and coordination will Latin America and the Caribbean be able to compete effectively on the global tourism stage and develop sustainable, quality tourism for future generations.

Article prepared by the TSTT Scientific Committee for the Americas

The authors are responsible for the choice and presentation of the facts contained in this document and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of Tourism and Society Think Tank and do not commit the Organization, and should not be attributed to TSTT or its members.

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