An analysis of the art and craft sector and its potential for sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean

Art and craft is considered to be an integral part of the tourism business, since it plays an important role as souvenirs and mementos, thereby spatially and temporarily expanding the visitor experience. It is also increasingly looked upon as an opportunity to diversify the tourism sector offerings, as well as the broader economic base. As part of the overall global creative economy, the art and craft sector has seen consistent trade growth over the past two decades, and has shown the capacity to forge even stronger linkages with the tourism sector. This paper examines the nature of this relationship in the particular context of the Caribbean, by undertaking a survey of the sub-regional art and craft sector, as well as a case study value chain analysis of two Caribbean countries-Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. The findings confirm that art and craft holds significant potential for bolstering the regional tourism economy. Moreover, the dynamics of the tourism sector appear, in turn, to provide a good driver for the future development of the sub-sector.