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According to Patullo, the major cost of tourism in the Caribbean is that the residents that call the island home are often shunned away from many of the most beautiful parts of the island. The residents sometimes make a living "harassing" tourist, something that I definitely experienced first hand at Negril. The downfall of this is that it breeds drug sales, and forces hotel and restaurant owners to keep local people off the property. People born and bred on the island, forced away from its natural beauty.
I without a doubt feel that GSL students are tourist. Even if we didn't go to the beaches, radio stations, etc., I came on this trip to not only experience a new culture but to see it and enjoy it as well. Is there a better definition of tourism that one traveling to a new place to see and enjoy? We are here to try to help, to make a difference and to hopefully leave a lasting impression. All of this while enjoying the sights, smells, and fantastic things that go along with traveling to a new place. The social impacts on Petersfield are positive based on the economical benefits, but culturally as well. We must not forget that not only are we observing and seeing a new culture but we are also being observed. I feel that the residents of Petersfield have just as much to learn about our standards and ways of life as we do about theirs. A positive cultural experience for all!