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Bonaire Wins Carribean Sustainable Tourism Award
The Bonaire National Marine Park, known as a “Diver’s Paradise,” is the recipient of the Islands Magazine/ Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Sustainable Tourism Award for 2008.
The Marine Park received the award during a special presentation at the 10th Annual Caribbean Conference for Sustainable Tourism.
The Bonaire National Marine Park is one of the few actively managed and self-funded marine protected areas in the world. It was cited for developing a perfect sustainable tourism model where conservation management, tourism needs and community benefits are balanced.
Islands Magazine and the CTO recognized the Marine Park for meeting its main objective: to maintain and restore the health and biological diversity of Bonaire’s reefs while promoting non-destructive tourism activities. More than 38,000 visitors experience the park each year and it routinely listed in the top five destinations for the Caribbean. Admission fees, commercial and private moorings, donations and grants account for the park’s funding.
The Marine Park includes 6,450 acres of extensive coral reefs, sea-grass and mangrove ecosystems, and excels in the protection of its natural wonders. In addition, it has eliminated all destructive practices such as anchoring and spear-fishing, and Bonaire’s healthy and diverse reefs now support a variety of non-destructive tourism activities whose impacts are carefully monitored by the park.
The award was presented by Mr. Ty Sawyer, the Editorial Director for Islands Magazine. Bonaire’s Lieutenant Governor Herbert Domacasse accepted the award on behalf of the island.
“We challenge the world to follow our example,” said Mr. Domacasse in his acceptance speech. “This small island which one can barely see on the world map cannot save it alone. We have to do it together. We owe this to the future generations.”
The 10th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism is organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization in collaboration with the Turks & Caicos Islands Tourist Board and the Caribbean Hotel Association.
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