Quote by James FitzAllen Mitchell

We are not anxious to grab the easiest dollar. The tourist dollar alone, unrestricted, is not worth the devastation of my people. A country where people have lost their soul is no longer worth visiting. We will encourage only small numbers of visitors whose idea of a holiday is not heaven or paradise, but participation in a different experience. We shall try to avoid the fate of some of our Caribbean neighbors who have ridden the tiger of tourism only to wind up being devoured by it. Large super-luxury hotels with imported management, materials, and values bring false prosperity with the negative side effects of soaring land prices that kill agriculture, polluted beaches, traffic jams, high rise construction that ravages hillsides and scalds the eyeballs - the very problems that the visitors want to forget.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the importance of sustainable tourism development. The speaker acknowledges the economic benefits of tourism but expresses concern about its uncontrolled growth and negative impacts on the local culture, environment, and economy. They criticize the practice of mass tourism and prioritize a more authentic and responsible form of travel. By resisting large-scale commercialization and protecting their natural resources, they aim to preserve the essence of their country and ensure a genuine experience for visitors. The quote serves as a warning against blindly pursuing tourism at the expense of the people's well-being and the nation's identity.