Although there is a new drive in the Cayman Islands to develop eco-tourism and sustainable tourism, there has already been a head start with this area of the market.
Beautiful nature trails have been developed particularly in the Sister Islands, while some properties have come up with their own environmentally friendly methods of operation.
The Tourism Development Services sector of the Department of Tourism is working on the development of eco-tourism for the Cayman Islands. Nature tourism goes hand in hand with keeping natural resources sustainable. Through a new initiative in Cayman, 11 different tourism outlets will become Green Globe Certified.
Cobalt Coast Resort is one such property on Grand Cayman. Through the Green Globe Certification process the cleaning staff will be trained to use different cleaning habits in order to be environmentally friendlier. They will also make use of different products.
‘It will mean reviewing ingredients used in cleaning, and making sure products are biodegradable, such as using vinegar instead of Windex,’ said owner Arie Barendrecht.
However, Cobalt Coast already has procedures in place that are helping it to go green.
The first is the re-generation of heat from the power generated through the air conditioning system which provides hot water for the guest rooms.
The resort also has its own sewage treatment plant which discharges grey water 80 feet below ground level. Mr. Barendrecht said the resort is one filter away from using this water for irrigation.
For the European market of tourists sustainable tourism practices are very important, said Mr. Barendrecht, and it is becoming more so for the American market.
Never too late
‘It’s good to start this process now. It’s never too late, and I hope this special effort will lead to the new Government taking a good hard look at the dump,’ said Mr. Barendrecht.
An area of eco-tourism that is already well established and growing in the Sister Islands is that of nature trails, hikes and historic sites. This will also be part of the Green Globe Certification programme.
Nature Cayman was set up in 2000 to draw attention to the ecology of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, including birds, reptiles, animals, fish, vegetation and geology.
According to Marketing and Promotions Manager, District Administration in Cayman Brac, Chevala Tatum, Nature Cayman is something that has evolved very well since its inception and it is popular enough for future growth.
Nature Cayman provides free nature tours in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. In Cayman Brac there are about 33 different nature trails, not including historic sites and maritime heritage tours. There is also a parrot reserve maintained by the National Trust. The tours are all free of charge, but transportation is not provided. Well over 100 such tours have taken place on an annual basis.
‘We think Nature Cayman is very important. We want nature to compliment the diving industry,’ explained Ms Tatum.
Nature maps are provided to visitors, and these are self-guided to allow visitors to make their own trips along the trails if they don’t want an organised tour.
With well over 150 species of birds on Cayman Brac, several endemic to the islands, there is much to see. Interpretive panels along the trails help explain bird and plant species and the type of terrain to be encountered and length of time a trail could be expected to take.
Little Cayman has the largest known breeding colony of the Red Footed Booby and the country’s first Ramsar site (internationally recognised wetlands), the Booby Pond Nature Reserve. (Call 948-2222 for information on Nature Cayman tours).
Little Cayman’s Southern Cross Club owner Peter Hillenbrand has taken the idea of eco-tourism to heart and his property is another of those that will focus on becoming Green Globe Certified.
Fewer chemicals
Manager of the resort, Ken Thompson, said key areas of going green will be using fewer chemicals and re-using grey water that comes from sinks and showers for watering plants. The introduction of some aspects of solar power will also be featured, he said.
Before Hurricane Ivan hit in September, the capacity of the intimate dive resort was diminished from 24 to 14, but this is soon to be up to 26 with the re-building of four more rooms, along with an extra fifth.
The units will be built with a roof overhang to keep the rooms cooler and they will be elevated to invite a breeze to blow through.
‘It’s about self-sufficiency and doing what we can to preserve the environment,’ said Mr. Thompson.
‘The less impact placed on the environment, the better it is for the reefs and natural resources in general,’ he said.
‘Sustainable tourism is paramount in Little Cayman. It’s got a charm people really appreciate and so we need to utilise what we have,’ he said.
Other participants are Brac Reef Beach Resort, Little Cayman Beach Resort, Pirates Point Resort on Little Cayman, Compass Point and Sunshine Suites on Grand Cayman, Pedro St. James Castle, Turtle Farm/Boatswain’s Beach, Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park.
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