Tobago is taking steps to align its conservation product with a more sustainable model of ecotourism.
This comes as the Tobago Reforestation, Watershed and Rehabilitation Programme launched a new ecotourism product.
Chairman Sean McCoon said the Tobago Eco-Stewardship Programme is designed to help hotels, tour operators and other tourism-related businesses adopt more sustainable and environmentally responsible practices.
“This programme is primarily geared toward encouraging responsible tourism and sustainable practices throughout the tourism sector. What we are trying to do through the programme is to show how sustainable tourism can become part and parcel of the way we do business here on the island and become part of the way that we chart the way forward.”
Mr McCoon noted that partnerships with businesses and local training agencies are helping to open pathways into the industry for trainees.
“We are actually in train, in talks with the Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute, where we can have interns from the institute, who are studying in the field of tourism and hospitality management, food and beverage services, to have these hotels that are participating partners take interns to the respective hotels to have a conveyor belt or a constant flow or a constant supply of interns.”
A requirement for participation in the new programme is compliance with the environmental requirements established by the TRWRP.
“What we have set up is a criteria for their participation. One is you must have a designated or established farm-to-table sort of operation where you grow crops organically to be used in the kitchen, in your food service, even in your beverage services. And we also encourage that the creation of local dishes and gastronomy experiences be actioned as a result of that.”
Mr McCoon added that partner properties must maintain structured waste management practices and utilise renewable and sustainable energy resources.