Published : 2025-07-03

Tourism Specialization of Small Island Developing States and Their Level of Human Development, Wealth and Poverty

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to discuss the theoretical basis of the concept of Small Island States Developing States (SIDS), highlight controversies surrounding the criteria for classifying SIDS and examine the relationship between tourism  specialization of individual SIDS and the level of their
human development, wealth and poverty. The importance of tourism in the group of 38 SIDS was
assessed using a composite index of tourism specialization based on data for 2023 regarding the
number of population and foreign tourists as well as the amount of tourism exports and GDP. The level of development and the standard of living were measured by the Human Development Index (HDI) and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita for 2022. The level of poverty was assessed by the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) for 2022 and the share of people living below $2.15 per day (averaged for 2012–2023). Values of the composite index indicate that there are 5 countries which largely depend on tourism: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Maldives, Seychelles and St. Lucia. Taking into account the component measures of the index, 10 other countries can be included in the group: Barbados, Belize, Fiji, Grenada, Jamaica, Cape Verde, Samoa, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. All these countries are characterized by higher levels of human development, a higher standard of living and lower indicators of poverty.

Keywords:

Small Island Developing States, Socio-Economic Development, Tourism, Poverty



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Jasiński, M. (2025). Tourism Specialization of Small Island Developing States and Their Level of Human Development, Wealth and Poverty. Studia Periegetica, 47(1), 2068. https://doi.org/10.58683/sp.2068

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Uniwersytet WSB Merito w Poznaniu
ul. Powstańców Wielkopolskich 5
61-895 Poznań
e-mail: journals@poznan.merito.pl
University
Uniwersytet WSB Merito w Poznaniu / WSB Merito University
ul. Powstańców Wielkopolskich 5
61-895 Poznań

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