Unpacked: A History of Caribbean Tourism

by Blake C. Scott

Unpacked offers a critical, novel perspective on the Caribbean's now taken-for-granted desirability as a tourist's paradise. Dreams of a tropical vacation have become a quintessential aspect of the modern Caribbean, as millions of tourists travel to the region and spend extravagantly to pursue vacation fantasies . At the beginning of the twentieth century, however, travelers from North America and Europe thought of the Caribbean as diseased, dangerous, and, according to many observers, "the white man's graveyard." How then did a trip to the Caribbean become a supposedly fun and safe experience? Unpacked examines the historical roots of the region's tourism industry by following a well-traveled sea route linking the US East Coast with the island of Cuba and the Isthmus of Panama. Blake C. Scott describes how the cultural and material history of US imperialism became the heart of modern Caribbean tourism. In addition, he explores how advances in tropical medicine, perceptions of the tropical environment, and development of infrastructure and transportation networks opened a new playground for visitors.

Genres: History

258 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2022

Reviews

[Myla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it a little all over the place. The attempts at weaving cultural and political history together does not work as well as it could. However, it is informative and offers a good example on how tourist sites are created both politically and culturally.

[Emily Posthumus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at the history of how Caribbean Tourism started. I thought there would be more contemporary issues as well.