Sustainable tourism is big business. Today’s travellers are increasingly eco-conscious and the world’s premier tourist destinations are quickly adapting to support the demand for sustainably minded tourism.
The Caribbean might not instantly spring to mind when it comes to the world’s most sustainable tourist destinations, but joint environmental efforts across many of the Caribbean’s islands has ensured today’s holidaymakers can enjoy a sustainable vacation.
How big is sustainable tourism?
The market for sustainable tourism is booming, with 81 percent of travellers believing that sustainable travel is important and a further 43 percent prepared to pay more.
Projections suggest the sustainable tourism industry will experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.8 percent over the next ten years, supported by increased sustainability awareness amongst the younger generation.
Data from Expedia shows that tourists are looking to travel to more sustainable destinations, as well as consuming sustainably while they’re there. Here, 49 percent prefer buying from local shops and restaurants, rather than chains. 43 percent choose more environmentally friendly transport options. 40 percent stay in accommodation that’s actively looking to lessen its environmental impact.
Sustainable tourism and the UK
A June 2024 study found that 73 percent of UK adults wanted the UK government to do more to promote sustainable tourism; 30 percent asked for tax incentives for airlines to invest in more fuel-efficient aircraft, with 27 percent asking the new government to bring in sustainable travel partnerships and certifications for green destinations.
Until there’s a dedicated government policy, however, the onus is on eco-conscious holidaymakers to make their own getaways sustainable, through the selection of sustainable holiday destinations and unintrusive holiday activities.
How has the Caribbean changed?
Many countries in the Caribbean are working towards sustainability. As an example, Barbados has had a national strategy for carbon neutrality in place since 2019. The country is striving for net zero emissions on a number of fronts, aiming to plant one million trees and be 100 percent reliant on renewable energy by 2030.
Many single-use plastics have also been banned on the island – a ban on the import, distribution, sale and use of disposable plastic containers, cutlery and straws has been in place since 2020, with petrol-based plastic bags also banned.
The Bahamas, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago also joined the fight against plastic pollution, drastically limiting the region’s reliance on disposables.
glimpse of the critically endangered Mona ground iguana, the island’s largest indigenous lizard. Locals and wider initiatives alike have taken matters into their own hands when it comes to marine life, building ingenious metal frames that encourage coral to reattach, growing the reef.
Bonaire Marine National Park (BNMP) is home to nearly 400 protected species spanning coral, crustaceans, fish, mammals, molluscs, plants and reptiles. Voted the Best Shore Dive Destination 22 years consecutively by readers of Scuba Diving Magazine, BNMP is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates the Caribbean’s natural beauty.
“The Caribbean is in a unique position,” Chris Pitt, Concierge Manager at Royal Westmoreland, provider of villas for sale in Barbados, tells Digital Journal “in that such a high proportion of our nations’ income is reliant on tourism. In Barbados, tourism accounts for 33% of the country’s jobs, but the legacy of accommodating tourists has, historically, resulted in a lot of wastage.”
In another example, Sustainable Travel International has partnered with Barbados Tourism Marketing Incorporated (BTMI) to deliver Net Zero training sessions for the local tourism industry – covering everything from hoteliers to transport providers. “Things are different now,” Pitt continues. “Solar power is used extensively across the region; rainwater harvesting is being used for irrigation. And that’s just part of it – sargassum is being safely removed from the coast and put into plastic alternatives, agrotourism is protecting the island’s forest cover and much more.”
