Economic Engagement: Supporting Communities

How you spend money impacts communities:

Buy Local, Buy Direct

- Purchase from artisans, not resellers - Shop at markets, not just supermarkets - Eat at local restaurants, not just hotels - Support small businesses - Avoid all-inclusive resorts when possible

Fair Pricing

- Don't haggle aggressively over small amounts - Understand pricing reflects island realities - Tip service workers appropriately - Pay asking prices for handmade items - Value labor fairly

"Tourists haggling over $2 for hours of handwork—meanwhile they paid $15 for airport coffee," fumes artisan Marie-José Pierre-Louis. "Our work has value."

Responsible Tourism Choices

- Choose locally-owned accommodations - Book cultural activities benefiting communities - Avoid exploitative "poverty tours" - Support environmental protection - Leave places better than found