The challenges to sustainability in island tourism

Islands are special places with a natural attraction for tourists and a special challenge to sustainability. The thousands of islands on the face of the earth include some of the finest and most sought after destinations, such as the Balearic Islands, the Hawaiian Islands, the Galapagos Islands, the Canary Islands, the French Polynesian Islands, and the Caribbean islands. The mystique associated with islands is dependent on a blend of different lifestyles, indigenous cultures, unique land formations, flora and fauna, and ocean and coastal resources. To keep that mystique alive and thriving, islands must implement sustainable tourism policies in all areas including environmental, economic and socio-cultural. This paper will examine the unique challenges that islands face as they attempt to build sustainability into their tourism development policies. It will also propose policies to assist in attaining and maintaining quality island tourism. Examples from all types of island destinations are included in the paper.