An unsustainable path: tourism's vulnerability to environmental decline in Antigua

In Antigua, environmental degradation caused by colonial plantation agriculture is currently exacerbated by short-sighted development goals and governmental mismanagement. The result is a highly eroded natural resource base and increasing economic vulnerability. Just as a colonial legacy of environmental degradation hastened the collapse of Antigua's agricultural sector, current degradation of Antigua's coastal zones threatens tourism. Policies attempting to address this economic vulnerability have largely ignored environmental conservation. Instead, they focus on strengthening the economy by promoting offshore banking and light manufacturing. This type of economic diversification is necessary. but not sufficient. Recent growth in banking and manufacturing has stagnated, and these sectors should not be counted on to offset potential declines in tourism revenues caused by coastal degradation. In the absence of strong efforts to protect and improve the coastal and marine environment, Antigua is on an unsustainable development path