The Bahamas has more than 700 islands including 16 Out Island Destinations. They are proactive and visionary in their environmental responsibilities. The Bahamas follows a two-way road to sustainability protecting both the natural environment and the durability and growth of its tourism sector.
The Hon. I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation. As a progressive and forward-looking government, our mandate is to ensure the health of our entire eco-system, for both the Bahamian people and visitors. We will also use best practices in order to grow a world class tourism product.
In order to put that philosophy into action, the nation, which is spread out over 100,000 square kilometers of crystal-clear ocean, has undertaken numerous environmental initiatives. The Bahamas has a commitment to promoting biodiversity in the environment, protecting its shorelines and addressing climate change. Tourism is its main industry and it saw an increase of 16.2 percent over 2023 and a 54.7 percent increase in 2019.
SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES
The Bahamas is guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and its rich culture and natural beauty inspires them to embrace critical and broad objectives that will promote prosperity and protect the natural resources which are driving the tourism industry in the Caribbean. These include protecting marine life and biodiversity; taking urgent, proactive action to combat the climate change and its wider impacts; protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable uses of terrestrial ecosystems; ethically stewarding National Forests; combating desertification; and stopping and reversing biodiversity loss and land degradation.
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One of the key initiatives in sustainability is the Bahamas Sustainable Investment Programme. This program focuses on innovative financial solutions and the creation Blue Carbon Credits Seagrass meadows are a great way to reduce carbon emissions.
Marine Conservation and Sustainability Projects is also on the forefront. Mangrove ManiaThe competition is spearheaded by Waterkeepers Bahamas A second initiative will engage the community to restore and replenish damaged mangroves around Grand Bahama, which were ravaged by Hurricane Dorian of Category 5 in 2019. Grand Bahama is home to a commercial coral farming facility. Coral Vita. Coral Vita uses innovative techniques to cultivate two dozen types of native corals. These techniques increase growth by 50% and make coral more resistant against rising temperatures and acids. There is also the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust This is a collaborative effort with many partners. Success in management Native bonefish. In order to protect bonefish habitat, five new national park have been created and one has been expanded. The Bahamian economy generates $169 millions annually from the sport.
HOSPITALITY INNOVATES TO SUSTAINABILITY
When proposing new developments, stakeholders and hospitality owners from boutique hotels in The Bahamas to global resort brands give priority to innovative sustainability initiatives.
Harmonising luxury and environmental responsibility Tiamo Resort On Andros Island, 11 villas are built sustainably using local pine and raised on stilts to provide natural cooling. Eleuthera is a popular destination. The Other SideThe upscale glamping retreat of Little Island Hotels offers a combination of comfort and sustainability. The tents are solar-powered, have hardwood floors with four-poster beds, modern bathrooms, and offer ocean views. In Nassau, Atlantis Paradise Island The non-profit demonstrates its commitment to sustainability by focusing on initiatives centered around marine conservation, eco-system restoration, and environmental awareness. Atlantis Blue Project Foundation The funding of scientific research and conservation programmes, as well as community outreach initiatives, will contribute to the preservation and creation of marine habitats of over one million acres and ultimately support the creation and protection of Marine Protected areas
The commitment to sustainability of future hotel and resort openings is making headlines. Six Senses Grande Bahama, which is focused on beach restoration, using native plants and sourcing construction materials locally; and Montage Cay in The Abacos set to be the first private island development from Montage Hotels & Resorts which will have a full-service spa made with sustainably sourced materials.
CRUISE MARINAS AND PORTS
There are currently nine major cruise ports in The Bahamas. The Central Bank of The Bahamas reports that the island nation received 8.5 million sea arrivals during the first eleven months of 2024. This is an increase of nearly 20 percent over the previous year.
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism considers the cruise sector to be vital for tourism, as well as being commercially viable for sustainability. The Bahamas Ministry Of Tourism views the cruise industry as a vital part of tourism, and also a sector that is commercially positioned for sustainability. Nassau Cruise Port reopened May 2023, following a $300 Million transformation. The Bahamas is taking a major step forward with the cruise port, which includes multiple initiatives designed to empower local communities and protect the environment. One of the projects is the annual International Coastal Cleanup – a global campaign to preserve oceans and waterways. Port staff members and community volunteers work together to remove litter from the coastline and promote sustainable practices.
Elisabeth Island Zaha Hadid Architects is aiming to make sustainability of the environment a cornerstone. The development will entail a new state-of-the-art superyacht marina on a site surrounded by 20,000 acres of Abaco National Park. The project will incorporate hurricane-proof infrastructure into its design in order to withstand severe weather.
You can also find out more about the following: MSC Foundation, a non-profit organization of MSC Cruises is actively involved in marine restoration with its Super Coral Programme, which has been launched at the newly-opened MSC Conservation Center Ocean Cay Bimini. The programme was launched in 2019 and uses scientific research for the identification of resilient coral genotypes which can withstand heat stress due to climate change. The programme has achieved many successes, including the growth of 298 fragments in coral nursery as well as a 100% survival rate during a severe ocean heatwave in The Bahamas that occurred in summer 2023.
