Sustainability of tourism in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

摘要

Tourism is the biggest industry in the Dominican Republic, and Punta Cana on the east coast is the biggest destination in that country. With the construction of all-inclusive resorts on the east coast beginning in the 1970s came domestic and international migrants seeking employment. However, lack of government regulation and planning resulted in sprawl and pollution in the residential areas. In addition to this, irresponsible recreation, construction, and fishing practices have damaged the natural aesthetics of the area, including the coral reef and related marine ecosystems. The objective of this thesis is to discover the social, economic, and environmental effects of tourism in the Punta Cana region. Fieldwork was conducted in the area by the author during March and April 2011. The research revealed that tourism is not currently sustainable in this region but that future government and private sector initiatives may help protect the region's most important industry.