Dive resorts make others ‘green’ with envy

Earlier this year, the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park was the first Botanic Park in the Caribbean region to gain Certification.

Through their participation in CEPTS, a joint pilot project between the Departments of Tourism and Environment and the tourism private sector, both resorts had to apply 248 standards, implement various environmental practices and have an independent third party audit completed in order to attain Certification. Green Globe is also ISO 17021 compliant, thereby ensuring the highest international standards.

“Being able to display the Green Globe on your website and marketing materials really is an incredible badge of honour and one that will reap rewards in terms of cost savings and the significant promotional benefits that come hand-in-hand with the Certification,” said Oneisha Richards, the Department of Tourism’s Deputy Director responsible for Product Development. She said both properties had to work extremely hard to get to this stage and would need to continue doing so in order to turn their green efforts into sustainable, long term goals for staff and guests alike.

Both resorts have specially appointed "green teams" that implement and oversee their green programmes. Cobalt Coast Dive Resort’s environmental best practices include using a 2-button system for toilet flushing in the guest bathrooms, reusing old towels and staff uniform t-shirts as cleaning rags, collecting recycling oil from compressors and kitchen cooking oil for reuse off-site by a local biofuel company, and delivering glass bottles and used batteries to the city dump for disposal.

Arie Barendrecht, proprietor of Cobalt Coast in West Bay said it was an obvious goal for the resort. “As a dive resort we are already dealing with a concerned clientele, so going the extra mile to operate in a more responsible and concerned manner fits in perfectly.”

Compass Point Dive Resort’s environmental best practices include identifying an energy automatic control system for guest rooms, using biodegradable/environmentally friendly housekeeping chemicals in the resort and bio-diesel in the dive shop operations, composting, and sorting of solid waste into recyclable and non-recyclable materials. 

The properties received their certificates at the “Living Green Fair”, which was held on the lawn of the Governor’s Residence on Friday. 

About Green Globe Certification : Green Globe is a worldwide green certification based on internationally accepted criteria for efficient operations and improved environmental performance of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under license, Green Globe Certification is based in California, USA and operates in over 83 countries. Green Globe is the only certification company to be an affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is partly owned by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and a member of the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) governing council.

Green Globe Certified businesses are recognized by AAA (American Automobile Club), British Airways Holidays, Air Canada Vacations, Travelocity, and other tour operators. Certified businesses are also promoted across all Green Globe websites, including www.greenglobe.travel, and in the popular travel magazine Islands.

For more information about becomingGreen Globe Certified, visit www.greenglobe.com or contact the Department of Tourism at 949-0623.