Troubling tourism : tourism, development, and social justice in Bocas del Toro, Panamá

This thesis examines the consequences of tourism in Bocas del Toro, Panamá and how tourism impacts residents, both those who prosper more from tourism and also those who benefit less. Utilizing qualitative research methods, residents were interviewed about how they think about and understand tourism development and its impact on the island. These findings are then put into conversation with critical development and planning literature, specifically focusing on people’s understandings of tourism in Bocas del Toro and how this affects the social relationships between foreigners and locals. These relationships are then discussed within the broader social and economic context that shapes tourism development in Latin America.