Tortola, British Virgin Islands: To sustain and help protect the beauty and habitat of the British Virgin Islands, the Tourist Board has taken proactive measures to help the territory become the premier destination for sustainable tourism in the Caribbean, according to a BVInews.com article.
Through their launch of the Sustainable Tourism Environmental Programme (STEP) in November 2011, an environmental audit was conducted on the four participating pilot properties: Agape Cottages, Myett’s Garden Inn, Serendipity House and Gordian House, to examine their uses in energy, water, wastewater management, chemical and product usage.
Based on the environmental assessments that were completed in December 2011, recommendations have been made to help improve the sustainability of each property. As a result, existing green practices were identified and suggestions were made to help enhance and add to these initiatives that were conducted by Agape Cottages and Myett’s. Some of the practices that were already in place were solar collectors for heating water, gray water used for irrigation and the elimination of pesticides being used in the gardens.
Phase two of the STEP also includes the implementation of an Environment Management System (EMS). This management system will provide the properties with an operational framework to assist them in their management of the natural resources, measuring the impact their operation has on the environment and implementing standard operating procedures which will lessen those impacts.
The STEP project is not a marketing strategy as its main objective is to encourage, not only the stakeholders in the tourism sector, but all stakeholders territorially, to preserve and sustain the BVI’s main product, the environment. Going “green” however does in fact attract quite a large international niche market and therefore affords the BVI with new marketing opportunities. By taking a responsible approach to sustainable development, the initiative not only helps to preserve the islands beauty and attractions but it will also prove to be more cost effective in the long run for the properties, the BVInews.com report said.
“We can all play our part in being more environmentally responsible by being more energy efficient and energy conscious, by reducing our waste, shopping responsibly, traveling wisely and supporting our communities by participating in community projects geared towards preserving the environment” stated Hugh Cresser, the Environmental Management Systems Consultant of Hugh Cresser & Associates who is implementing the project. “We all have a role to play in the territory’s growth and development as Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
The STEP Project is being implemented by Tetra Tech in collaboration with Hugh Cresser & Associates.
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