The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road
Islands Economic Cooperation Forum
ANNUAL REPORT ON GLOBAL ISLANDS 2020

The Annual Report on Global Islands 2020 was published in April 2021 by Island Studies Press in partnership with the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province.

Executive Editor-in-Chief is Dr. James (Jim) Randall, working with Editor Maggie J. Whitten Henry and Designer Joan Sinclair.

“Given the multiple and ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the world, it should come as no surprise that the theme for this year’s edition of the Annual Report is public health on small islands, the vulnerabilities and resilience associated with the public health systems, and the links to the rest of the world that both aggravate challenges and offer creative solutions.

Using historical and current examples, the authors contributing to this volume show how islands experience and govern this external crisis while balancing economic and social agendas. As is the case with most issues on islands, the internal relationships developed on the islands, and the collaborations they have established externally, are critical to understanding islands’ current circumstances and the likelihood of experiencing sustainable futures.”

JAMES RANDALL, EXECUTIVE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE
Wang Sheng, Director General, Foreign Affairs Office, Hainan Province, P.R. China

PART I: A BACKGROUND TO ISLAND ECONOMIES

INTRODUCTION
James Randall, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada

Chapter 1: The state of island economies and development in 2020
James Randall and Marlene Chapman, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada

This chapter continues the tradition in this series of tracking the economic and social changes taking place on a group of 48 island states and 13 subnational island jurisdictions (SNIJs). By bringing together island-specific data in one place, this chapter (and its predecessors in past editions) allows the reader to better understand the state of islands and the changes, albeit sometimes small, taking place from year-to-year. (PDF)

PART II: ISLAND DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Chapter 2: Building back better: COVID-19 and island economies
Francesco Sindico, University of Strathclyde Law School, Glasgow, Scotland

In this chapter, Francesco Sindico discusses the COVID-19 impacts on the tourism sector and food security, and calls for a more robust policy-relevant research agenda that recognizes traditional policies that may have contributed to island vulnerability. A recognition that governance and government is at the heart of many of the current vulnerabilities is the first step in making islands more resilient to the next pandemic. (PDF)

Chapter 3: Neither gift nor luck: Island resilience and the COVID-19 pandemic
Robert Huish, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada

In this chapter, Robert Huish uses the examples of historic and current pandemic experiences faced by islands to better understand their failures and successes. The subtitle of the chapter, “Neither gift, nor luck”, suggests that pandemic outcomes have not occurred by either fate or chance. Rather, good governance practices and coordination within and across islands have contributed to the positive outcomes. (PDF)

Chapter 4: Pandemic and post-pandemic islandness: Building and wrecking resilience
Ilan Kelman, University College London, UK; University of Agder, Norway

In this chapter, Ilan Kelman uses the concept of islandness to better understand the pandemic outcomes on small islands. Kelman’s interpretation of islandness takes two forms; the physical connectedness and barriers implemented to prevent the spread of the virus, and the virtual connectedness experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, Kelman concludes that islandness can be both beneficial and detrimental to islands facing crises, and that the key to a more resilient post-pandemic world is to recognize these elements and be nimble enough to react quickly when circumstances change. (PDF)

Chapter 5: Islands and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals: Learning lessons to transform our world — A health perspective
John N. Telesford, T.A. Marryshow Community College, Grenada

This chapter reminds us that all nations are still supposed to be working toward meeting their obligations under the United Nations-approved 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given the theme of this volume and current public health challenges, John N. Telesford focuses on SDG3 — good health and well-being — and how this is integrated with all the other SDGs. The COVID-19 pandemic will negatively affect progress in achieving the SDGs. What is not clear is how many jurisdictions have even begun to articulate the magnitude of this impact. (PDF)

PART III: MARITIME COOPERATION AND LARGE OCEAN ECONOMIES

Chapter 6: A call for action: Prospects for cooperation between Hainan and other global islands
Huang Danying, Hainan University, P.R. China
Wang Sheng, Director General, Foreign Affairs Office, Hainan Province, P.R. China

This chapter is a “call to action” regarding the role that Hainan can play in a rapidly changing network of islands. Huang Danying and Wang Sheng document the advances Hainan has made and intends to make soon as a global island, and contend that Hainan is well-positioned to serve as a living laboratory for both China and the region to engage in some innovative economic development practices. (PDF)

Chapter 7: Explaining conflicts and cooperation among islands: Towards a unified framework
Mathew Y. H. Wong, Education University of Hong Kong

This chapter reminds readers of the main theoretical frameworks underpinning state-to-state cooperation and conflict and applies these to a series of case studies involving islands, including their relationships with other islands and with mainland jurisdictions. Mathew Y. H. Wong suggests that islands have been underrepresented in the literature on conflict and cooperation and, by using these cases, presents a preliminary unified framework of island-to-island and island-to-mainland cooperation and conflict. (PDF)

Chapter 8: Building cooperation among networks of islands: Redefining large ocean economies
Lin Heshan, Island Research Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources, P.R. China
Deng Yuncheng, Institute of Marine Strategy, Tianjin University, P.R. China

In this chapter, Lin Heshan and Deng Yuncheng provide examples of the many types of island networks that currently exist, making the case that there is still significant opportunity to build more cohesive island-centric networks around the broad concepts of the marine economy and the Blue Economy and calling for the collaborative establishment of Blue Economy demonstration areas and global central island cities to truly achieve the goals of sustainable development. (PDF)

CONCLUSIONS
James Randall, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada

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The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road
Islands Economic Cooperation Forum
ANNUAL REPORT ON GLOBAL ISLANDS 2019

The Annual Report on Global Islands 2019 was published in July 2020 by Island Studies Press in partnership with the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province.

Executive Editor-in-Chief is Dr. James (Jim) Randall, working with Editor Dr. Laurie Brinklow and Designer Joan Sinclair.

“The theme of this Annual Report, as well as the 2019 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Islands Economic Cooperation Forum, was to examine the role of international tourism and intermediary or producer services more generally for the sustainable development of islands. Given that Hainan is striving to become a centre for tourism and services with a global reach, this is a critically important local issue. Even with the recent concerns about health and travel, it is anticipated that international tourism and services will continue to be among the fastest-growing economic sectors, and will be especially important for islands. The significance of tourism and services is not just economic; there are also cultural, environmental, and political dimensions that are addressed in this edited collection with contributions
by some of the leading Island Studies researchers.”

JAMES RANDALL, EXECUTIVE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Virtual Launch Event
The Annual Report on Global Islands 2019 was launched at a virtual event in September 2020 hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province. The official launch video, produced by the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province, is available to stream on the Institute of Island Studies YouTube Channel and features interviews with a number of the authors from the 2019 Annual Report (in English), as well as presentations and commentary in Chinese with English subtitles.

Watch videos from the Virtual Launch:

• Official launch video
• Interview with Executive Editor-in-Chief Dr. Jim Randall
• Interview with contributing author Professor Alan Lew
• Interview with contributing author Professor John Connell

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I: A BACKGROUND TO ISLAND ECONOMIES

INTRODUCTION and Summary of the 2018 Boao Island Economic Cooperation Forum
James Randall
University of Prince Edward Island, Canada

Chapter 1: The state of island economies and development in 2019
James Randall and Adam Brimacombe
University of Prince Edward Island, Canada

PART II: ISLAND DEVELOPMENT

Chapter 2: Island tourism: On the edge of an industry
John Connell
University of Sydney

Chapter 3: Overtourism and undertourism: ICT in island development policy
Giovanni Ruggieri, Palermo University
Patrizia Calò, Observatory of Tourism for Island Economies
Koulla Orthodoxou, Observatory of Tourism for Island Economies

Chapter 4: Landscapes, peoplescapes, and mindscapes in island tourism
Alan A. Lew
Northern Arizona University, USA

Chapter 5: Tourism on small islands: The urgency for sustainability indicators
Joseph M. Cheer
Wakayama University, Japan

Chapter 6: Prospects for cruise tourism in the South China Sea given the trends in international cruise tourism
Huang Danying, Hainan University
Wang Sheng, Director General, Foreign Affairs Office, Hainan Province, P.R. China
Zhong Tianxiang, Director, Foreign Affairs Commission of CPC Hainan Provincial Committee/Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province, P.R. China

PART III: PRODUCER AND INTERMEDIATE SERVICES – ISLANDS IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

Chapter 7: Digitization of the orange economy as a driver of sustainable development
Barney Pacheco, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Camp
Marvin E. Pacheco, UWI-Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business

Chapter 8: Blockchain and cryptocurrencies as an economic development strategy for small island states and territories, with a particular focus on Malta
Mario Aloisio
University of Malta Junior College

Chapter 9: Accelerating the construction of the Hainan free trade port with trade in services as the leading driver
Chi Fulin
China Institute for Reform and Development

CONCLUSIONS: The future of Island Studies and Hainan
James Randall
University of Prince Edward Island, Canada

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The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road
Islands Economic Cooperation Forum
ANNUAL REPORT ON GLOBAL ISLANDS 2018

The Annual Report on Global Islands 2018, published by Island Studies Press in partnership with the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province, was launched at the Boao Island Economic Cooperation Forum in April 2019.

Executive Editor-in-Chief is Dr. James Randall, working with Editor Dr. Laurie Brinklow and Designer Joan Sinclair.

“This edition of the Annual Report on Global Islands retains the best of previous editions, including a summary of the Islands Economic Forum held in 2018 and the most current statistics on a select group of island states and subnational island jurisdictions. However, it also goes into much more depth on some of the key issues linking islands to the rest of the world. This includes the significance of islands as centres of offshore finance, islands as free ports and free trade zones, and the importance of the ‘marine economy’ on and surrounding islands. It includes contributions from some of the leading international and Chinese experts in these areas. We hope that this engages readers, inspires further discussion on island development, and strengthens the role that the island of Hainan plays as one of the key sites leading this discussion.”

JAMES RANDALL, EXECUTIVE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE
Wang Sheng
Director General, Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province, P.R. of China

PART I: A BACKGROUND TO ISLAND ECONOMIES

INTRODUCTION and Summary of the 2018 Boao Island Economic Cooperation Forum
James Randall
University of Prince Edward Island, Canada

Chapter 1: The ongoing state of island economies
James Randall and Adam Brimacombe
University of Prince Edward Island, Canada

PART II: ISLAND DEVELOPMENT

Chapter 2: Distance Matters: Near islands, remote islands, and the effect of distance on island development
Godfrey Baldacchino
University of Malta

Chapter 3: The impact of natural and ecological factors on the development of South Pacific island economies
Wang Sheng, Director General, Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province, P.R. of China;
Huang Danying, Associate Professor, College of Foreign Languages, Hainan University; and
Zhong Tianxiang, Director, Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Provincial People’s Government

Chapter 4: Marine economies: Drivers, roles and challenges
Adam Grydehøj
Island Dynamics, Denmark

PART III: FREE TRADE AND CONNECTEDNESS – ISLANDS IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

Chapter 5: The experience of islands with free ports and free trade zones
Alexandre Lavissière
Ecole de Management de Normandie, France

Chapter 6: Islands as offshore financial centres: The free(r) flow of capital
William Vlcek
University of St. Andrews, Scotland

Chapter 7: A primer on building successful economic environments on islands
Marie Briguglio, Stefano Moncada, and Gordon Cordina
University of Malta

Chapter 8: Hainan Island: From a pilot free trade zone to a free trade port with Chinese characteristics
Chi Fulin
President, China Institute for Reform and Development

Chapter 9: The 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road: A perspective from China on a network of free trade areas
Feng Aipeng and Den Yuncheng
Island Research Centre of the Ministry of Natural Resources, People’s Republic of China

CONCLUSIONS: Prospects for the future of Hainan Province
James Randall, Godfrey Baldacchino

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