Towards Sustainable and Climate Resilient Tourism Certification in The Bahamas
Sustainable and climate resilient tourism certificates are an adaptable tool that can positively complement environmental regulation and increase the attractiveness of destinations to a discerning public. In The Bahamas, these certificates could be an important element in “building back better” the tourism sector, post-COVID-19.
(1) Provide a comprehensive compilation of data related to existing tourism sustainability and
resilience certifications programs or schemes, and present a, critical and systematic analysis
of its characteristics.
(2) Develop a complete set of recommendations for the future adoption and implementation
of a certification system for sustainable and resilient tourism in The Bahamas, based on the previous analysis and stakeholder consultation.
(3) Deliver a strategic and operational plan for the implementation of the recommendations previously developed, including the proposition of a governance scheme for the implementation and monitoring of such certification. Recent market trends suggest that sustainability and the adequate use of natural resources will be more valued by tourists in the post-pandemic scenario. In the Bahamas many tourism properties currently lie in a storm surge zone and the extent of properties at risk increases with a future scenario of a 1 m rise in sea level. While sea level rise (SLR) by itself only threatens a small number of properties, when combined with weak (Category 1), moderate (Category 3) and strong (Category 5) storms the resulting coastal flooding impacts 34%, 69%, and 83% of the tourism infrastructure (hotels and resorts),
respectively. Therefore, resilience and sustainability arise as key factors to provide competitiveness and longevity for The Bahamas tourism sector.
resilience certifications programs or schemes, and present a, critical and systematic analysis
of its characteristics.
(2) Develop a complete set of recommendations for the future adoption and implementation
of a certification system for sustainable and resilient tourism in The Bahamas, based on the previous analysis and stakeholder consultation.
(3) Deliver a strategic and operational plan for the implementation of the recommendations previously developed, including the proposition of a governance scheme for the implementation and monitoring of such certification. Recent market trends suggest that sustainability and the adequate use of natural resources will be more valued by tourists in the post-pandemic scenario. In the Bahamas many tourism properties currently lie in a storm surge zone and the extent of properties at risk increases with a future scenario of a 1 m rise in sea level. While sea level rise (SLR) by itself only threatens a small number of properties, when combined with weak (Category 1), moderate (Category 3) and strong (Category 5) storms the resulting coastal flooding impacts 34%, 69%, and 83% of the tourism infrastructure (hotels and resorts),
respectively. Therefore, resilience and sustainability arise as key factors to provide competitiveness and longevity for The Bahamas tourism sector.
