A Paradigm Shift in the Relationship between Tourists and their Hosts: The Impact on the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Trinidad and Tobago

Tourism has assumed a decidedly new dynamism in relationships between tourists and their hosts. This phenomenon is prevalent in Caribbean countries, including Trinidad and Tobago. The cultural diffusion enabled by globalization has created ease and familiarity making the interacting parties very comfortable with each other. Still, a level of unexplored fascination between the two exists. This interaction comes with risk factors manifested in the HIV/AIDS epidemic and other social ills seriously impacting the twin island nation. Latest reports show that the HIV incidence rate in that country has reached unprecedented levels (over 20,000 in 2009). Through this study the authors look critically at the extent to which the sexual nature of the relationships between locals and visitors to Trinidad and Tobago are contributing to the rapid growth of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the resulting myriad of social and economic challenges faced by the nation's Government.