Jamaica steps up its sustainable-tourism initiatives

Jamaica, Sun, Sea, Sand, Sustainability

Globally known and admired for its pristine beaches, relaxing environment and world-class attractions, Jamaica is keen to let the world know sustainable tourism is high on the agenda. The idyllic Caribbean island boasts developed sustainable tourism initiatives that focus on community programmes, environmental initiatives, eco-friendly attractions and socially responsible accommodation offerings.

Here are Jamaica’s top five sustainable tourism priority areas:

Community Involvement

Jamaica has a history of supporting its local communities. One such initiative is the Meet the People Programme. The programme, which is free to visitors, is ideal for travellers wanting to delve a little deeper to discover the delights of the Jamaican people, lifestyle, traditions and customs. Guests are matched with one of over 700 Jamaican volunteers who share similar religious, occupational or leisure interests. The initiative is not limited to adults, as children are also encouraged to take part in the programme. MeetThePeople

Community involement in Jamaica is synonymous with organisations such as hotels that generate employment. One such project is in Cockpit Country where entrepreneurs are keen to attract visitors to the area by stepping up infrastructure. This in turn will create alternative income for its residents through environmentally sustainable, culturally sensitive development.

Hotels and Resorts

Many of Jamaica’s premier and most well known hotels and resorts have fully developed environmental practices in place. The soon to be announced Sandal’s Foundation, an initiative of Sandals & Beaches Resorts, is based on a fundamental principle to help address life-impacting issues for the people who live in the places where Sandals operate, including the protection of their environment. Created in response to an overwhelming desire from guests to contribute more to the local communities, the foundation is an accumulation of Sandals supporting the local community and the environment over the last 25 years. Now as an official charity, the Sandals Foundation provides guests with an opportunity to get more involved, by donating at the resorts shops and when checking out of the hotel

Grand Lido Negril Resort & Spa is committed to the conservation of its natural resources and ensures its operations are carried out with minimum negative impact. Environmentally the hotel has taken measures such as implementing an irrigation system that uses water from its sister property Hedonism II for gardening purposes. Additionally, the hotel has installed an underground water tank to catch rainwater for washing requirements. The hotel was also built using solar panels, which reduces the amount of energy required for heating. Grand Lido Negril also demonstrate a social commitment by its involvement in community projects such as GLN Heart, which supports surrounding community members, and Craft Vendors, a partnership between the hotel and local craft businesses allowing them to showcase their crafts to guests at the hotel.

Half Moon, the 400-acre, luxury resort in Jamaica has achieved Green Globe Benchmark Certificate certification in recognition of its many environmental and social initiatives. Approximately 90 percent of Half Moon’s food products are purchased from local providers, with most employees and suppliers being local. The resort has recorded a five percent drop in energy bills thanks to several conservation initiatives such as installing a water treatment plant and replacing high wattage bulbs with low energy bulbs. The resort also practices a policy of self sufficiency and recycling, such as making its own furniture.

The owners of Hotel Mockingbird Hill, Port Antonio have identified two main areas of environmental concern; climate change and water conservations. With these two elements in mind they have adopted emission-reducing goals by changing the hotel’s main source of energy from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The hotel also aims to compensate for every drop of water used by conservation and recycling programmes. Owners Shireen Aga and Barbara Walker have launched their own carbon offset programme which encourages guests to donate USD$10 which they then pass on to the Jamaica Conservation Development Trusts to buy a tree.

Eco-based Tours and Attractions

Green Castle Estate in Robins Bay, is set on 1600 acres and is one of the largest orchid and organic farms in the Caribbean. A visit to the estate offers guests a chance to experience the beautiful Jamaican countryside and to learn about its interesting history. Green Castle Estate has recently formed the Greencastle Tropical Study Centre, which was established to support the surrounding rural communities, and to attract students and researchers to study land use and its effects on the ecosystems and people that surround the estate. The centre also offers eco-experiences for visitors.
GreenCastleStudyCentre

Mystic Mountain, Ochos Rios, which opened earlier this year is an eco-friendly adventure park situated on over 100 acres of land, containing a diverse ecosystem including natural springs, tropical plants, trees and a variety of birds. The tours and rides have been carefully designed for minimal environmental impact. During construction, the chairlift foundations were installed by helicopter, which significantly reduced disturbance to the environment and eliminated any need for a roadway to transport equipment. More than 1000 meters of bobsled track were hand carried through the forest, while the track was laid hugging natural limestone cliffs through the sloping hilly interior. More than 90% of energy requirements are generator supplied with unique specifications designed to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by over 60%. The area can now be considered protected from de-forestation.

Misty Morning is a brand new attraction which will enable visitors to fly through the trees on a zip-line, or get close to nature on an environmentally friendly tour. Launching in October, Misty Morning, located at at Montpelier Estate, is Chukka Caribbean’s latest venture. The 5am zip-line tours at Misty Morning, named after a Bob Marley song, include outdoor adventure activities and a Jamaican brunch. Chukka already offers the largest collection of adventure tours in the Caribbean, including river tubing, horseback ‘ride & swim’, and dog sledding.

Reliable Adventures Jamaica, is a further eco-initative aimed at both locals and visitors. The company was established by a local who is passionate about the environment, and employs locals to run the tours of the stunning Bluefields area focusing on culture, natural history and Jamaica ecology. The tours take nature enthusiasts to a nearby community to meet the locals, or visitors can join an environmentally sustainable hiking tour. ReliableAdventures

Food

The exclusive, but low-key Jake’s resort in Calabash Bay buys as much produce as possible within ten miles of the resort, organic if available, which generates business and helps sustain local suppliers. Additionally, the swimming pool is filtered with salt water, eliminating harsh chemicals, and most of the rooms are cooled by fans only. Jake’s also uses recycled water for irrigation, solar heating and provides fresh water-bottle refills for guests to cut down on plastic use. The co-owner of Jakes, Jason Henzell has also established a non-for-profit foundation called Breds, which has aided a local school and trained a lifesaving team for sea rescue.

Environmental Initiatives

Dolphin Head Trust, works to protect 3,000 acres of the biologically diverse Dolphin Head Mountains, a short distance from Montego Bay. The Dolphin Head Trust is a Jamaican Environmental Non-Government Organisation dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in and around the Dolphin Head Forest Reserve. The area is home to orchids, ferns, bromeliads and birdlife. Visitors can take a walk through the mountains to learn about medicinal plants as well as the history and cultural elements of the area. DolphinHead

The Royal Palm Preserve near Negril is designed to protect and conserve the protected area of the Negril Great Morass and its wetland flora and fauna. It also aims to raise the level of awareness, knowledge and understanding about the Negril Great Morass (and other wetland ecosystems), and to provide opportunities to citizens of neighbouring communities. These opportunities enable income generation through direct employment, training and the facilitation of sustainable livelihood projects in the community. RoyalPalm

Jamaica continues to maintain, update and develop its community and environmental tourism practices, to satisfy the growing trend for responsible tourism options available to visitors.

Valere Tjolle