Archipelago Tourism Revisited

“As an archipelago, islands are better able to flex and strengthen their agency and influence. Their political strength lies in their commonality rather than their differences; although – when presented as complementary assets – differences may be of immense value in attracting a wide range of types of tourism, while encouraging multi-island hopping. These are some of the forces and discontinuities that make archipelagos so fascinating to examine, and why this volume is so significant.” -Richard Butler, Emeritus Professor of Tourism, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. “Has island tourism shifted since the COVID-19 pandemic? Is the industry intent to 'build back better' or has it become even more unsustainable? Whichever the case, archipelagos offer illuminating insights to such questions. A complex interplay of size, remoteness, urbanization, connectivity and governance issues impacts island and archipelago tourism in specific ways. This book builds on Baldacchino's 2015 work, proposing a unique lens to better understand the many dynamics affecting island tourism. Worth a read!” –Rachel Dodds, Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada. “Anyone interested in untangling the conundrum of how tourism-dependent islands in archipelagos can move towards more sustainable futures is in for a treat. This edited book significantly updates Baldacchino’s earlier volume on the subject, responding to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and combining fascinating contextual material with in-depth analysis of multi-island locations from around the world.” -Regina Scheyvens, Professor of International Development, Massey University, New Zealand. “Contemporary Perspectives in Archipelago Tourism is a must read and a welcome addition to island tourism scholarship. This collection probes the tensions implicit in the imperatives of cooperation and competition that exist in and between islands as post-pandemic tourism destinations. Assumptions of ‘island homogeneity’ are upended by the contents of this fine collection. Instead, here are vibrant examples of how islands are navigating core-periphery relations in search of a more fulfilling post-pandemic future.” -Sherma Roberts, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados. “Clearly, some islands are more equal than others: this book uses a 'core-periphery' framework to deepen our understanding of the nuances of island tourism, post-COVID-19. Twelve case studies highlight the challenges of tourism within archipelagos, including transport infrastructure at airports and seaports, supply-side constraints, marginalization of outer islands, and quality of life issues. Archipelagic tourism requires new perspectives: Baldacchino drives this ‘turn’ in island and tourism studies forward.” -Michelle McLeod, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica.