'Impacts of Tourism-related Foreign Direct Investment in Barbados: Local Experienced 'Realities'

study examines the impacts of tourism-related foreign direct investment (TFDI) as perceived by local people, drawing on their experienced 'realities'. In an attempt to capture a more holistic picture of TFDI impacts, it takes a multi-stakeholder approach. Emphasis is placed on local residents, however the study includes perspectives of resort hotel employers, locally-based suppliers, investors, policy-makers, tourism and business association representatives, local residents who are TFDI resort hotel employees, and local residents who are non-TFDI employees. The research is situated in the context of Barbados, a tourismdependent, small island developing state - a tourist destination that remains under-researched by tourism scholars. The idea that reality is open to multiple interpretations through lived experiences underpins the ethos of this thesis. It is guided by an interpretive approach with the purpose to capture different 'experienced realities' of local impacts of TFDI in Barbados. In order to extend current TFDI knowledge, this study uses qualitative data as opposed to applying econometric analysis which is generally adopted in TFDI studies. Qualitative expert and empirically informed in-depth interviews are used to develop an understanding of organisational behaviour in relation to resort hotels as examples of TFDI employers, alongside semistructured interviews with locally-based suppliers, investors, policy-makers, and tourism and business association representatives. Additionally, the use of focus group interviews with resort hotel employees and local residents allow for a broad spread of views to be captured whilst placing emphasis on personal experiences, interpretations and views on the consequences of tourism development through FDI. The study showed that the perceived enhanced economic development options for Barbados’ tourism sector and local communities, as well as employment opportunities for locals, and Barbados global investment reputation are reasons that Barbados focuses its attention on TFDI. Value for money, in terms of investment concessions, is the primary motivation for TFDIs to invest in Barbados. Key TFDI impacts from previous research were confirmed in the realities experienced by all stakeholders in this research namely impacts on demand patterns, capital, technology, skills formation, local firms, and policy implications. It may be argued that the perceptions gathered during this research study are not merely a reflection on the self-interests of each stakeholder group. The power dynamics between groups, namely, foreign-owned investors and the government was a highlighted theme by a number of stakeholders, including local residents.