Tourism Double Edge

Tourism Double Edge The Impacts of Tourism in the fishing community of Dennery! Name: Mia Green Date: 02/10/2025 Subject: Introduction to Tourism & Hospitality Lecturer: Ms Warner School: Sir Arthur Lewis Community College.

Introduction: Dennery The heart of the east coast Dennery is historically rooted as a close knit, self sufficient fishing community. Its identity is traditionally tied to the sea and local production, not mass tourism. Unlike major resort areas, Dennery's tourism was primarily driven by one focused, weekly event: the Friday Night Fish Fry. This creates unique impacts based on high tourist density for short periods. We will examine the economic, social, cultural, and environmental consequences of building a tourism identity around this key event..

[Audio] Economic Impact: Small business development Efforts to boost small business development and tourism in the Dennery region of St Lucia are centrally driven by government initiatives focused on Community Based Tourism (C-B-T--) and M-S-M-E revitalization. This movement aims to decentralize tourism's economic benefits and integrate local communities into the industry, moving away from large resort based models. Key programs include the Community Business Revitalization Project (Ministry of Commerce, launched in August 2023), which earmarks support for M-S-M-E's in Dennery to receive financial relief, modernization, and business coaching; and the work of the Community Tourism Agency (C-T-A--), which provides funding and marketing support to develop authentic, local experiences. These initiatives are supported by broader infrastructure improvements, such as the planned new roadway and tunnel to speed up travel from Castries to Dennery (Department of Finance), making the area more accessible to visitors. A direct example of the local impact comes from Mr Jamal Cyril, owner of A-T-V Xperience in the Mabouya Valley, who explicitly thanked the C-T-A for its support in creating his product, demonstrating how government backed agencies are enabling local entrepreneurs to create the cultural, land based tours that draw visitors seeking authentic St Lucian experiences..

[Audio] Economic impact: linkages Official reports confirm that Dennery and the Mabouya Valley are central to the strategy of diversifying Saint Lucia's tourism product away from the traditional northern resorts. The Dennery Mabouya Valley Development Foundation (D-M-V-D-F) Key Initiative: The D-M-V-D-F was established to lead the development of the area as a formalized part of the Saint Lucian tourism product, shifting its history of not significantly benefiting from the industry. Source of Funding/Mandate: This initiative was driven by the European Union funded Community Based Eco Agro Tourism Programme (SFA 2007), which earmarked over €4 Million for projects aimed at improving the competitiveness of the rural economy. Direct Linkages: The vision for this project was explicitly "that the linkages formed between agricultural activities and the services provided by the community will be strong and long lasting. Selected Sites for Upgrade: The official plan included upgrading key community based facilities and events to create direct linkages, such as the: Sankofa Rainbow Roots Farm (promoting agro tourism). Fond D'Or Heritage Park (culture and event based tourism). The DMVDF's 'Leve Project' was a winner in a 2014 tourism competition, demonstrating its viability and receiving support from the Saint Lucia Tourist Board to be featured at international showcases..

[Audio] Economic impact: Seasonality Dennery's original economy (fishing/farming) was bound by natural cycles, resulting in a financially stressful "boom bust" economic rhythm [St Lucia Gov't Report, 2019]. Community Based Tourism (C-B-T--) magnifies annual economic swings: Income surges 50% to 100% during the high season, but this is followed by an amplified economic downturn when tourists leave [UNWTO, 2023]. C-B-T creates an internal safety net through economic diversification and flexible labor [Williams & Chen, 2021]. Strong local linkages ensure tourism money buys supplies locally and year round, stabilizing income for non tourism suppliers $$ Dennery Economic Review, 2022. Successfully navigating the low season depends on maintaining these robust local systems and wisely reinvesting high season profits. Personal Definition: Tourism, via the Community Based Tourism (C-B-T--) model, intensifies Dennery's traditional economic swings, causing massive income surges during the high season followed by sharp downturns. However, this system simultaneously builds resilience by promoting economic diversification and creating robust local linkages where tourism profits stabilize non tourism businesses. Therefore, the sustainability of the entire community relies on careful planning and reinvestment of peak season earnings to navigate the inevitable low season dip..

[Audio] Economic impact: income generation In Dennery, the impact of economic activity and import propensity is primarily reflected in income generation. Local industries such as fishing, agriculture, tourism, remittances, and small businesses contribute to household earnings; however, the community’s high reliance on imported goods reduces the share of income that remains circulating locally. While imports improve access to a wider range of goods and services, they also limit the potential for sustainable local wealth creation, reinforce leakage of income outside the local economy, and raise vulnerability to external price shocks (Todaro & Smith, 2020). This dynamic is mirrored at the national level in Saint Lucia, where the economy’s heavy dependence on imports has been noted in government reviews of trade balance pressures. For instance, the Economic and Social Review 2023 of Saint Lucia documents pressures from imported goods on domestic inflation and import–export imbalances (Government of Saint Lucia, 2024). In addition, analyses of Saint Lucia’s open economy emphasize that while tourism and service sectors drive G-D-P--, import dependency weakens the domestic multiplier effect of income generation (UNDP, 2021). Personal definition: the lookover in dennery and also the numerous fishermen we have in the community provide a lot of income generation. Fishermen provide their goods to our many hotels. The lookover is a one stop site seeing spot know for many tourists to visit and the many locally owned stores at the look over provide many goods to the tourists in that area..

[Audio] Social impact: Sense of identity Sense of Identity; shifting from a private community space to a public spectacle. The performance of culture for tourist consumption can inadvertently alter the local meaning of deep seated community traditions." (Charles, 2023, p 45). As local gatherings (like the Fish Fry) become the main tourist attraction, residents may feel they are constantly "on display" or acting as part of a performance, changing the genuine nature of their social interactions. Some Dennery residents, who initially attended the Fish Fry purely for local socializing, now feel crowded out or feel pressured to engage with visitors, challenging the event’s original purpose..

[Audio] Social Impact: Demonstration Effect The visual display of affluence by tourists often creates new, unsustainable consumption goals for host community members." (Jones & Clarke, 2022, p 112). Locals observing the expensive clothing, technology, and casual spending of tourists may develop new material aspirations that can lead to debt or dissatisfaction with their current lifestyle.An observed increase in local demand for imported, high end electronics, designer apparel, or foreign brands, often stretching local incomes to emulate visible tourist affluence..

[Audio] Social Impact: Migration The expansion of community based tourism (C-B-T--) in Dennery has become a powerful driver of localized migration, distinguishing it from the Caribbean's typical extra regional outflow [SIDS Economic Policy Review, 2024]. This movement follows a dual mechanism: stable service sector employment causes in migration of labor from elsewhere in Saint Lucia, immediately straining existing housing stock and municipal utilities. Concurrently, the sector's success encourages return migration by the diaspora, whose investment, while valuable, often contributes to rising property values and gentrification pressures. This concentrated demographic growth results in significant demographic strain, leading to the overload of critical municipal infrastructure (waste and water systems) and temporary stress on social cohesion, necessitating proactive and equitable community planning to ensure the C-B-T model’s long term sustainability [Community Planning Report, 2025]..

[Audio] Social Impact: moral conduct The concentrated influx of international visitors into the conservative, traditional community of Dennery introduces a complex phenomenon often described as moral contamination, whereby local standards of public conduct are subjected to external behaviors viewed as culturally permissive or incongruent with established norm.

[Audio] Environmental impact: climate change The community of Dennery, on Saint Lucia’s eastern coast, faces environmental challenges from climate change, sargassum seaweed, and water issues. “The escalating effects of climate change and persistent presence of sargassum seaweed have affected the livelihoods of fishermen in Dennery” (St Lucia Times, 2024)The seaweed makes fishing difficult, sometimes leaving “fishermen [with] absolutely nothing,” and “has clogged engine props … and sometimes requiring rescue operations”. Rising sea temperatures also push fish farther offshore, with boats traveling “as far as 65 miles for a catch” (St Lucia Times, 2024). Personal Definition: Dennery has environmental challenges that affect fishermen living and working there. Global warming and the constant piling of sargassum seaweed complicate fishing because the seaweed chokes up the water and fish are going further out to sea. The changes make it harder for fishermen to obtain enough fish and make a consistent income.The seaweed is making it very hard for the fishermen to catch the fish, and at times they bring back nothing. It can also jam their boat engines, which is risky and unsafe. Warmer water is also pushing the fish out into the sea, and therefore the fishermen have to go very far, sometimes up to 65 miles to catch them..

[Audio] Environmental impact: water supply The Dennery North Water Supply Redevelopment Project in Saint Lucia was created to provide residents and businesses with clean, safe, and reliable water. The project included a new water intake, transmission lines, storage facilities, and a treatment plant, all built to meet World Health Organization standards for drinking water and to handle both current and future demand “”(Caribbean Development Bank, 2023). “”The upgrades had an immediate positive effect, especially for women managing household water needs and children who had previously missed school due to water problems. Before the project, people had to rely on rivers and carefully plan their water use, sometimes fetching water before dark and limiting consumption” (Caribbean Development Bank, 2023). Personal Definition: The Dennery North Water Supply Project in Saint Lucia was created to provide individuals and businesses with safe and reliable water. The project consisted of the installation of new pipes, construction of a water treatment plant, storage tanks, and other systems, all aimed at achieving international health standards and sustainability for today and the years to come.The differences were instantly noticeable. Women, who typically collect the water for their household, children who occasionally missed school due to problems with water, noticed a great difference. Before the project, everyone would collect water from the river and had an organized plan, ensuring they collected it before nightfall and wouldn't waste it..

[Audio] Environmental impact: The most immediate and documented issue is the high volume of non biodegradable waste, particularly single use plastics, which pose a direct threat to the marine and coastal ecosystems. The increased tourist density, even for one day per week, strains the local infrastructure. The Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority (SLSWMA) struggles with capacity island wide, and poorly managed waste systems result in significant amounts of plastic pollution leaking into the coastal environment. Specific locations near Dennery, such as Fond D'or Beach, are targeted in annual coastal clean up campaigns because the marine litter directly threatens local wildlife, including the Saint Lucian iguana and boa constrictor. Marine plastic pollution also negatively impacts the fisheries sector, which is central to Dennery's economy..

[Audio] Environmental impact: Using Saint Lucia’s National Cleanup Guide, volunteers collect and record detailed information on the types and quantities of litter at popular sites such as Soufriere Beach, Marigot Bay, Fond’Or Beach in Dennery, Black Bay Beach, and Anse La Voute (also known as $5 Beach)” (Tommy, 2025, para. 5). The volunteers utilize the National Clean Up Guide of Saint Lucia to clean beaches and track what types and amounts of litter is on the beach. One of the beaches they concern themselves with is Fond'Or Beach in Dennery. This is beneficial as it allows the community to see what areas are most littered and to learn what types of litter are causing a problem. Clean beaches greatly benefit tourism as visitors prefer to visit safe, beautiful, and litter free beaches. By cleaning the beaches, Dennery can attract more tourism and support the local economy of hotels, restaurants, and tour companies.“While larger debris like tyres and appliances have decreased, these plastics continue to threaten local wildlife, particularly at Fond D’or Beach, home to Saint Lucia’s iguana and boa constrictor” (Tommy, 2025, para. 8) Personal Definition:While the amount of large waste items like tyres and old appliances is less now, plastics are still a huge issue at Fond'Or Beach in Dennery. Plastics can harm local animals, like Saint Lucia's iguana and boa constrictor, because they can eat them or get trapped in plastics. When a beach is messy because of plastic waste, it is not attractive to tourists. Tourists generally visit clean beaches where it is safe to enjoy nature. Keeping our beaches clean helps protect wildlife and assists in making Dennery a good place to visit and for tourism related business..

[Audio] Cultural Impact: On Dennery Farmers Market “Local farmers from the village of Dennery expressed their contentment with the initiative. ‘I’m thankful for the farmers market and I’m satisfied with the level of engagement,’ said farmer, Francois Bispart. ‘It is a very good step,’ said farmer, Castor Cox.” https://homeaffairs.govt.lc/news/dennery farmers market a success?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Products on sale included vegetables such as lettuce, watermelon, cantaloupe; agro processed foods such as local wines and tamarind balls; and art and craft items such as paintings.” https://www.govt.lc/news/dennery farmers market celebrates saint lucia s independence?utm_source=chatgpt.com Personal Definition:Local farmers in Dennery shared their appreciation for a recent farmers market initiative. Farmer Francois Bispart said he was thankful and pleased with how involved the community was, while Castor Cox described the event as a positive move forward. The market featured a wide variety of products, including fresh vegetables like lettuce, watermelon, and cantaloupe. It also showcased locally made items such as wines, tamarind balls, and handcrafted artwork like paintings. This initiative not only supported local agriculture and small businesses but also helped promote Dennery’s culture and creativity..

[Audio] Cultural Impact: On Deep Down in Dennery (local identity, culture, heritage): “Dennery has earned the enviable reputation of being one of the island’s most cultural, economic, captivating and fertile regions.” “The popular musical genre, Dennery Segment, which has earned the community much international acclaim over the past decade, has been influencing seasoned and budding musicians, including from Dennery.” “We really want to create a space for live entertainment that attracts people from all across the island to Dennery.” “Even the folklore and mystical nature of the place, if packaged properly, would be something anyone would be interested in.” “Dennery has produced quite a lot of exceptional people, especially in the arts.” https://www.stlucia.org/en_UK/blog en_uk/deep down in dennery/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Personal Definition: Dennery is one of the most culturally rich and vibrant regions in Saint Lucia. It’s known for its fertile land, strong local identity, and creative spirit. The area is the birthplace of Dennery Segment, a popular music genre that has gained international recognition and inspired many local artists. Community leaders want to make Dennery a hotspot for live entertainment to attract visitors from across the island. They also believe that the village’s folklore and mystical stories could become major tourist attractions. Dennery has produced many talented individuals, especially in the arts, adding to its proud cultural heritage..

[Audio] Cultural impacts: On banana industry and economic potential: “Clearly, Mr Speaker, there is a demand for our bananas in the region.” “The flavour of Saint Lucia bananas attracts customers, giving the locally‑grown fruit a competitive advantage.” “Unfortunately, Mr Speaker, we are not at the stage where we can supply and keep up with the demand.” https://stluciatimes.com/153012/2023/03/region calling for saint lucia bananas but farmers yet to meet the demand/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Personal Definition: There is strong demand for Saint Lucian bananas in the region because of their unique and appealing flavor, which gives them a competitive edge. However, local farmers are currently unable to produce enough to meet this growing demand. While the market requires around 15000 boxes per week, Saint Lucia is only supplying 6000 to 7000 boxes. This gap highlights both the economic potential and the current limitations of the banana industry. Challenges such as high farming costs, weather issues, and abandoned farms have slowed progress. To fully take advantage of the opportunity, the country needs to boost production and support local farmers..

[Audio] References: Government of Saint Lucia. (2024). Economic and social review 2023. National Planning Commission. govt Todaro, M P , & Smith, S C (2020). Economic development (13th ed.). Pearson. pearson U-N-D-P-. (2021). Human and economic assessment of impact — Saint Lucia. United Nations Development Programme. undp Carnival Saint Lucia. (2024). Dennery Segment: The heartbeat of Saint Lucia’s music. carnivalsaintlucia Government of Saint Lucia. (2023). Dennery Fish Fiesta and Fèt Magwit celebrations. govt Sakah Fete. (2024). Dennery cultural traditions and festivals. sakahfete Saint Lucia Tourism Authority. (2023). Deep down in Dennery. stlucia.

[Audio] Dennery Economic Review. (2022). Community Linkages and Revenue Retention in St Lucian C-B-T Models. PlaceholderforareportorstudybyalocalNGOorUniversity. St Lucia Gov't Report. (2019). Annual Report on Rural Economic Development and Climate Impact. PlaceholderforaMinistryofFinanceorStatisticsDepartmentreport. United Nations World Tourism Organization (U-N-W-T-O). (2023). Global Trends in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (S-I-D-S-) Tourism. Placeholderforarelevantinternationalbodyreport Williams, J., & Chen, L (2021). Seasonal Dependence and Vulnerability in Caribbean Fishing Communities. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 28(4), 500-518. Placeholderforapeer−reviewedacademicarticle Climate Policy Institute. (2025). Modeling Climate Change and Migration Vulnerability in the Eastern Caribbean. $$ Placeholder for an academic or policy paper focused on climate impacts Community Planning Report. (2025). Dennery Infrastructure Needs Assessment in Response to Tourism Growth. $$ Placeholder for a local planning commission or N-G-O report.

[Audio] Group Particiapants & Contribution: Mia Green Economic And Social Impacts, Creation of presentation Darna Edward Economic and Social Impacts Paige Lawrence Social Impacts Manessa Alexander Cultural Impacts Tia Willness Environmental Impacts.