water Article Coastal and Marine Quality and Tourists’ Stated Intention to Return to Barbados Peter Schuhmann 1,*, Ryan Skeete 2, Richard Waite 3, Prosper Bangwayo-Skeete 4, James Casey 5, Hazel A. Oxenford 6 and David A. Gill 7 1 Department of Economics and Finance, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA 2 Caribbean Tourism Organization, Warrens, St. Michael BB22026, Barbados;
[email protected] 3 World Resources Institute, Washington, DC 20002, USA;
[email protected] 4 Department of Economics, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill BB11000, Barbados;
[email protected] 5 Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA 24450, USA;
[email protected] 6 Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill BB11000, Barbados;
[email protected] 7 Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Lab, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: 1-910-962-3417 Received: 2 May 2019; Accepted: 13 June 2019; Published: 17 June 2019 Abstract: Seawater quality is critical for island and coastal communities dependent on coastal tourism. Improper management of coastal development and inland watersheds can decrease seawater quality and adversely impact marine life, human health, and economic growth. Agricultural runoff and improper sewage management compromise nearshore water quality in many coastal regions and can impact visitation decisions of tourists who are drawn to these destinations. The purpose of this paper is to understand how tourists’ decisions to revisit Barbados might be affected by changes in coastal and marine quality.