Barbados Leads the Way in Sustainable Tourism

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Written by Linda S. Hohnholz

Sustainable tourism is rapidly becoming of greater importance for tourists as well as residents of travel destinations. In Barbados, there is a strong commitment to responsible tourism, taking into account the preservation of the island’s beauty and nature from the mountains to the ocean.

Barbados has set a goal to become the very first 100% green fossil-fuel free island by 2030 and received Conde Nast Traveller’s designation in December 2021 as the top sustainable travel destination. The island is doing its part and at the same time inviting tourists to participate in sustainable tourism activities during their holiday.

Marine Conservation – Save the Turtles

Barbados understands the importance of marine life and the island is dedicated to protecting the rare and wonderful species that live in its waters. To support this, Barbados has implemented a number of conservation efforts on the island including, the Blue Green Initiative and the Barbados Sea Turtle Project.

The BlueGreen Initiative is a reef restoration pilot project which uses innovative Biorock technology to grow limestone from seawater. The goal of this project is to increase coral growth and create new fish habitat.

The Barbados Sea Turtle Project focuses on the conservation of the critically endangered marine turtle species that forage around and nest on Barbados. This project, which has been managed by the University of the West Indies, for over 30 years, operates a 24-hour monitoring and response service, and recruits Barbadians and long-stay visitors as volunteers to assist with its programmes. Visitors who are staying on-island under four weeks can spend a day or night out with the BSTP responding to calls about sightings of nesting females, female monitoring, hatchling rescues and releases.

Plant Trees

There is no better way to connect with nature and the Earth than to get your hands dirty and plant some trees! Visitors to Barbados can plant a fruit tree whilst on holiday and join the wider Bajan community in their efforts to decrease carbon emissions and achieve food security, an important developmental goal the island nation is striving to achieve by the year 2030.

One such place where this can be done is the Coco Hill Forest.  Visitors can choose to plant fruit trees or vegetables in the lush reserve. They also have the option of planting trees to expand the Barbados Botanical Gardens and Barbados Trailway.

Join a Beach/Sea Clean-Up

While enjoying the stunning beauty of Barbados’ crystal-clear seas, visitors can do their part to help the environment by joining a beach/ocean clean-up.

Non-profit organizations in Barbados regularly carry out extensive beach clean-ups on a monthly basis. These clean-ups keep the shores of the island in pristine condition and also aid in the survival of many endangered species such as the Hawksbill and Leatherback turtles. Visitors can join in at the Dare to Care Beach Clean-Up or the Dive Fest Beach Clean-Up. Guests help to maintain the beautiful views and enjoy them simultaneously.

Hydrate with ECO Sky Water

Barbados has a high population density. This coupled with high demand of fresh water and unusual weather patterns resulting in less rainfall and prolonged droughts has put pressure on the island’s water resources. Enter ECO Sky Water, a small, local water production company that produces, stores and distributes its own water. By using solar-powered hydro-panel water generation technology to extract and store atmospheric water; distributing water in backyard compostable bottles and returnable glass bottles; and utilising renewable energy to drive all aspects of its operations, ECO Sky Water operates with a near-zero carbon footprint, near-negligible grid connectivity and zero waste generation.

Enjoy Sea & Farm-To-Table Cuisine

For a small country, supporting home-grown produce is essential for sustainable development and Barbados offer incredible support to farmers who produce unmissable meals straight from farm-to-table. Known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean, Barbados’ restaurants and chefs go above and beyond to deliver the freshest meals possible. Many restaurants base their menus on seasonal produce from local farmers such as fruits, vegetables, local meat and fish.

Oistins Bay Gardens, Barbados’ famous fishing town located in Christ Church, is a great example of an area that utilises local produce. Here visitors can hand pick their ‘catch of the day’ and get it grilled or fried right in front of them. This is a great way to support local fisher folk and the community, while enjoying an excellent meal at the same time.

Home to many farm animals, organic crops and nature reserves, P.E.G. Farm is one of the organic agriculture centres in Barbados. Another great example of a self-sustaining area with excellent cuisine. Here visitors can enjoy a garden-to-table lunch at their farmhouse café before taking a walking tour through the nature reserves to really take in the natural beauty of the island.

Visitors can also enjoy fresh, local cuisine at Local & Co. This restaurant is committed to the health of Barbados’ waters and soils, they also recognise the value of the Bajan food community and growing the local economy. Guests can dine at Local & Co. and trust they will receive a delicious meal produced with sustainability in mind.

Stay in Sustainable Accommodation

Barbados values and promotes the use of several sustainable accommodations (which are carefully built to preserve the natural beauty of the island), encouraging guests to experience the natural beauty of the island while ensuring minimal impact on the environment. Barbados welcome visitors to stay at one of the many ‘Eco-Lodges’ dotted across the land. ‘Eco-Lodges’ are any accommodation that abides by sustainable practices, such as using sustainable energy sources such as solar power. These accommodations are often made from natural or recycled materials.

For more information about travel to Barbados, click here.

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About the author

Avatar of Linda S. Hohnholz

Linda S. Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz has been an editor for eTurboNews for many years. She is in charge of all premium content and press releases.

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