Dr. Robertico Croes, assistant director of the Dick Pope Sr. Institute for Tourism Studies at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management recently published a book titled,聽The Small Island Paradox: Tourism Specialization as a Potential Solution聽that defines and analyzes the growth and prosperity of small island destinations.
Dr. Croes explains the cyclic paradox as a conceptual trap, 鈥淪mall islands cannot grow in economic terms because they are small, and they are small in economic terms because they cannot grow.鈥� This direct correlation is influenced by the underlying premise that 鈥榮mall is ugly and big is beautiful.鈥�
This study assesses the complexities surrounding tourism growth within thirty islands in the Caribbean,聽Mediterranean聽and Pacific. Croes elaborates,聽鈥淚n my journey to get answers, I noticed how poorly endowed small islands are in terms of rigorous and comprehensive research, particularly in the tourism literature.鈥�
Croes鈥� book will be used as a supplemental resource guide for graduate courses taught at the Rosen College and is available for purchase through聽.
In addition to his extensive work with the Dick Pope Institute, Dr. Croes serves as interim chair of the Tourism, Events & Attractions department at the Rosen College.