The Bahamas and St. Lucia have been honored with the Caribbean Destination Resilience Awards at the 2024 Caribbean Travel Marketplace hosted in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The recognition is awarded to destinations that significantly focus on resilience through commitment to the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) sustainable development goals, by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA).
Destination Stewardship and Resilience Award
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The Bahamas has been awarded the prestigious Caribbean Destination Resilience Award by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) in collaboration with the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST). This award is a testament to The Bahamas’ unwavering commitment to sustainability and resilience in tourism, aligning with the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Caribbean Destination Resilience Award acknowledges destinations that exhibit a deliberate focus on resiliency, particularly through innovative strategies and collaborative efforts that engage both public and private sector stakeholders. The Bahamas’ exemplary initiatives in addressing climate change and fostering sustainable development have set a benchmark in the region, making it a deserving recipient of this honour.
The Bahamas competed in Category A, for destinations with over 500,000 annual stopover visitors. The judging criteria encompassed five main themes: Commitments to Partnership and Collaboration, Sustainable/Resiliency Related Activities, Innovation and Technology, Linkages and External Engagement, and Contribution of Initiatives to Tourism.
The Bahamas’ winning submission showcased the resilience of the Abacos post-Hurricane Dorian and highlighted the destination’s strategic use of collaborative partnerships. These efforts not only facilitated the region’s reconstruction but also emphasized the importance of preserving its natural and cultural heritage. Through this balance, the Abacos ensure that visitors have memorable experiences that honor the environment and uplift local communities.
The Honorable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation for The Bahamas, said: “The Caribbean Destination Resilience Award is a real achievement for the Abacos, and the thanks go out to the many public and private entities that have come together and worked in partnership to make sustainable tourism a priority to preserve, protect, and promote the area as a travel destination with a strong future. From mangrove restoration to energy conservation, and the promotion of community-based tourism activities that celebrate the islands, the Abacos are proof positive that collaboration is the way to address the important issues of the day.”
The Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award
St Lucia outshined Bonaire and St. Marteen to receive the award in the small destination category. The Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award recognises a tourism product/initiative, which contributes to a better quality of life in the destination and provides a unique visitor experience. Initiatives generally promote widespread adoption of good practices, engaging the local community/youth/vulnerable groups, visitors and/or tourism workers. Destinations and Businesses in this Award Category should illustrate how they may have integrated technological solutions and/or Information Communication Technologies (ICT’s) and highlight any innovative marketing and/or market engagement initiatives.
Richard Moss, Senior Sales manager of the St. Lucia Tourism Authority, said that a lot of hard work went into bringing the islands tourism product to what it is today.
“This award is amazing. In St Lucia, we are a growing destination and we understand the business of tourism and hospitality. And as a public sector organization working without private sector partners is really invaluable. We get some of our very good ideas from them and it has really helped us. We’ve held hands throughout the pandemic and we have made it out. And not only have we become resilient, but we have also grown,” Moss said.
