Investigating the Sustainability of Cruise Tourism: A Case Study of Key West

TLDR

Sustainability in mass tourist destinations is assessed by examining pressures, perceptions, and policy responses, as illustrated in studies of Torrevieja, Spain. The study investigates cruise ship tourism in Key West, Florida, by examining its perceived benefits and drawbacks. The authors use a qualitative case study and apply the land‑use tourism model of Rebollo and Baidal (2003) to analyze industry growth and its associated issues. Key West, like other mature cruise destinations, fears continued growth will erode sustainability, yet residents hold ambivalent views toward future quantitative and qualitative expansion. The study references Rebollo and Baidal’s 2003 model and is available through Taylor & Francis Online and Google Scholar.

Abstract

This qualitative research examines cruise ship tourism through a case study of Key West, Florida, exploring its perceived benefits and drawbacks. It outlines the growth of the industry, the issues raised by that growth, and uses the land-use tourism model developed by Vera Rebollo and Ivars Baidal (2003) Vera Rebollo, J. F. and A. 2003. Measuring sustainability in a mass tourist destination: Pressures, perceptions and policy responses in Torrevieja, Spain. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 11: 181–203. [Taylor & Francis Online] , [Google Scholar] to probe those issues. The results illustrate how mature cruise tourism destinations such as Key West fear continued growth and loss of sustainability, but have mixed emotions about future quantitative and qualitative growth.