also assesses the suitability of using tourism development strategies for small island economies to overcome the built-in restrictions imposed by size. The growth of tourism on islands has brought economic benefits, and it has been argued that these benefits have become vital to the island to continue as a community (Keane, Brophy & Cuddy 1992). However, the development of tourism has at the same time created problems felt most keenly by the local population. The influx of large numbers of tourists to an island destination is likely to have a profound effect on the destination in cultural, social and environmental terms because of the destination’s small size. Furthermore, the local population is more likely to have frequent contact with tourists compared with larger islands or mainland destinations