Sustainable tourism in the Caribbean is at a crossroads, and the new reality includes a potential seasonal shift in tourism demand, which could take tourists away from the region. Experts at the recent Conference on Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Development warned that the region must adopt aggressive new strategies to reverse the effects of reef destruction, climate change and other ecological woes. Rick MacPherson, director of the conservation program for the Coral Reef Alliance, spoke with Caribbean editor Gay Nagle Myers about reefs, risks and resources.
Q: Is the Caribbean region on the sustainable tourism bandwagon, or is it just more talk and little action?
A: The reality is a bit of each. We've documented operators who have adopted voluntary marine recreation standards in scuba and snorkeling. We've seen closer relationships develop between the tourism sector and marine-protected areas in many destinations. We need increased commitments to percolate into more of the mass tourism providers, such as cruise lines and bulk purchasers.
Q: Is it too late for the Caribbean to launch initiatives to promote or jumpstart sustainable tourism?
A: It's not too late, but we have a limited window of opportunity, maybe five to 10 years before some undesirable outcomes are inevitable.
The Caribbean could go a long way toward sustainability by agreeing that environmental standards can reduce tourism's environmental footprint. We've got evidence that codes of conduct demonstrate measurable environmental performance gains.
Q: What is the situation regarding coral reefs?
A: The Coral Reef Alliance just launched a five-year initiative called Reefs Forever to preserve critical reefs and marine protected areas around the world. Reef health is declining, and the Caribbean reefs have taken a beating. We've lost overall coral cover on the ocean floor, witnessed the loss of soft corals and sponges, seen an increase in marine diseases and a drastic decrease in fish populations and body size.
We are also losing people and communities that have relied upon healthy reefs for food, coastal protection and cultural identity.
Q: What's the message to dive destinations?
A: I've seen companies that clearly get the connection between healthy reefs and healthy businesses. I've also seen abject greed and disregard for the longevity of the ecosystem. Information alone is not enough to get people to change behavior. We need to provide information and identify incentives that can be adopted and will uphold sustainable practices.
Q: What lessons can we learn from a destination such as Bonaire, which apparently has struck the right balance between environmental correctness and economic pursuit?
A: Bonaire learned early on that marine protected areas work. There's an MPA around the entire island with a manager, staff, patrol boats, mooring buoys at dive sites, a user fee to generate revenue and educational programs to reduce poaching. Bonaire is not problem-free, however. The island faces the real challenge of how to manage cruise tourism since the arrival of cruise ships last year. Bonaire lacks the infrastructure to support a large visitor increase.
Q: Are you optimistic regarding the fate of reefs?
A: Absolutely! Reefs make up less than 1% of the ocean floor. Isn't 1% within our grasp and capabilities as humans to preserve?
To contact reporter Gay Nagle Myers, send e-mail to [email protected].