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LOCAL Friday 16 OctOber 2020

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA):

Can Sustainable Tourism Save the Dutch Caribbean?

KRALENDIJK, BONAIRE — visit these islands in the first natural resources and work natural resources, inad- Consumers are learn-
The Dutch Caribbean Na- place; often to take ad- to ensure that these envi- equate infrastructure (to ing that their choices are
ture Alliance (DCNA) re- vantage of the pristine na- ronments are protected for deal with waste water and contributing to the overall
cently published a special ture, crystal clear waters everyone to enjoy for years solid waste) and climate health of local environ-
edition of their free digital and diverse ecosystems to come. change. Each island will ments, and increasingly
newsletter BioNews about they have to offer. At first need to consider how to “quality” is being defined
the importance of design- glance it may appear that Uniqueness of the Dutch adapt and deal with these by the environmental and
ing and implementing sus- the demands of increasing Caribbean four issues if they wish to ethical components. Eco-
tainable tourism practices tourism are at direct odds Each of the six Dutch Ca- design a sustainable tour- tourism has seen a rise in
within the Dutch Caribbe- with conservation efforts, ribbean islands have their ism plan. recent years, evident by
an. The idea is to promote but this does not have to own unique draw, entic- Bonaire’s push to become
sustainable practices on be the case. Designing a ing visitors from around the Measuring Success the world’s first blue desti-
each of the islands to help sustainable tourism plan world each year. From en- Measuring the effective- nation.
conserve and restore the will not only work to protect vironments ranging from ness of a sustainable tourism
natural environments while the environmental richness tropical, cloud and dry plan is not always straight Ecotourism could highlight
enhancing the visitors ex- that inspired tourists to visit forests to rich coral reefs, forward. When determin- some of the islands’ best
perience and livelihoods of the islands in the first place, each island has something ing the overall success, it natural features while still
residents. but actually enhance their special to offer. Unfortu- is important to consider allowing tourists the op-
overall experience. DCNA nately, recent research has three aspects: environmen- portunity to come and ex-
Prior to 2020, international just released its special edi- highlighted areas in which tal (how is the island physi- plore. This special edition
travel was getting progres- tion BioNews on sustainable these environments have cally coping with tourism), BioNews explores various
sively easier and cheaper. tourism, which promotes become gravely threat- social (how is local culture options available and pro-
There was a pressure to the idea of designing tour- ened, and if no action is and overall satisfaction of vides recommendations for
offer visitors prime expe- ism to enrich the environ- taken soon, these environ- residents being influenced each island to consider.
riences at a discounted ment and local experience ments could disappear by tourism) and economic
price which often created on the islands. It is para- completely. (how are the islands finan- More information
tension between nature mount that the develop- The main issues each island cially benefitting from tour- Dutch Caribbean Nature
management and con- ment and growth of the will have to face can be ism). A successful manage- Alliance- BioNews special
servation and the tour- tourism industry within the broken into four main cate- ment plan must find a way 2020- Designing Sustain-
ism industry. It is important Dutch Caribbean take into gories: increases in human to balance these three as- able Tourism- https://www.
to remember why tourists account the fragility of its pressure, consumption of pects. dcnanature.org. q