Sustainable Tourism: A Potential Force for Coastal Habitat & Marine Environment Protection

Growing up in Southern, California, for Dave the oceans was one of his first connections to nature. And Reese has been drawn to the ocean since the day he could walk. Together we share over 70 years of professional experience on the oceans.

The oceans provide numerous benefits including climate regulation, providing about half of the world’s protein to humans, economic benefits through a variety of industry including seafood, transportation, and tourism, a valuable source of medicine, and recreation.

Despite the many benefits Oceans are facing vast extinction from multiple stresses according to several marine experts from around the world. Primary threats include: ocean acidification, climate change, ocean pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices.

Ejemplos de desarrollo Local

Recientemente viajé a España por cuestiones académicas y de ahí a Estados Unidos a visitar el  nuevo parque de Harry Potter, en Orlando. Evidencie dos procesos de desarrollo que vale la pena referenciar. Por un lado, España registra el 25% del desempleo y éste se ha encarnado de manera más dramática en los jóvenes y en especial en los hombres, se vive una crisis desconcertante.

Estados Unidos por otro lado, respira un alivio de la crisis.  Pero si hay algo en común que  haya encontrado en este viaje es como el sector turismo se convierte en catalizador de la crisis de estas dos economías y resulta ser un buen ejemplo de desarrollo local.
En España visité Toledo y Segovia, dos municipios que viven exclusivamente del turismo, pero el que realmente me deja una enseñanza de cómo el turismo puede ser una verdadera fuente de riqueza, si se adopta como una estrategia de desarrollo local, fue La Granja de San Idelfonso.

A way forward for sustainable tourism in the wider Caribbean

Sustainable tourism requires regional collaboration, according to a joint communiqué issued by agencies involved.

That is the outcome of the initial meeting of regional bodies, which was held in Managua, Nicaragua.

Agencies met to share their respective work programmes and outlined their priority focal areas, main activities, and current and pipeline projects highlighting specific requests for collaboration as it relates to funding/technical assistance, with the objective of continuing to advance issues of mutual interest.