OCHO RIOS — A high-end hotel operator here is warning tourism officials in Barbados and similar tourism-dependent destinations in the region to pay closer attention to eco-friendly practices as they seek to make their offerings more sustainable and attractive.
General Manager of the Jamaica Inn, Kyle Mais, said a new trend among travellers is to seek out locations that engage in environmentally friendly practices.
Though pointing out that as environmental sustainable discussions became more prevalent over the past decade the industry started to “wake up and become more conscious” of its impact on the environment, he agreed there was still a lot more that could be done.
Mais told Barbados TODAY: “There is no doubt about it, as a society we have all changed in our outlook, so a lot of folk as part of their booking process is to find out what is your stance and what are you doing regarding the environment.
“It is one of the biggest trends that we are seeing, not at Jamaica Inn alone, but across the industry, is the questions about what are you doing to protect the environment, what are you doing about your footprint.”
It was against this backdrop that operators in the tourism sector across the region should continue to up their game when it comes to sustainability practices, in an effort to appeal to the masses while playing a greater role in protecting the environment, he said.
“Tourism and travel produce a lot of bi-product or waste product basically . . . So we, going forward as an industry, need to do that much more to offset our carbon footprint which is something we (Jamaica Inn) are doing and we are only a small piece of that puzzle. As we do what we do and spread the word and bring other hotels and other tourism entities on board and be a part of that movement, it is going to make our industry that much more attractive,” he said.
“You hear about people being worried about mass tourism, you hear people worried about what the expanding of the industry is going to do to the environment. So everything we are doing now comes back to planning and making sure we do it consciously and in a sustainable fashion,” he cautioned.
The long-time hotelier was speaking on the sidelines of a site visit to his Ocho Rios, St Ann property by Barbados TODAY, among travel writers from around the world, as part of a Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) press trip aimed at showcasing and highlighting various aspects of Jamaica’s rapidly growing tourism product.
He said it was also important for those operating on the beach, including fisherfolk and beach vendors, to play a greater role in helping to protect the region’s coral reefs and beach life.
Mais pointed out that Jamaica Inn had started a protection programme for turtles after it was realised a lot of them were going onto the beach at that property to lay their eggs.
“We started tracking it and this was the catalyst for us to go further afield and start protecting the area. One of the things I realise, and we all see it, maybe even in Barbados, is how the livelihood of the fishermen [was] being seriously affected by the numbers of fish and the size of the fish and how far out they have to go and catch the fish now,” he said.
For the past four years, Jamaica Inn has also been managing a fish sanctuary called the White River Fish Sanctuary, as it takes even greater care to help protect the environment. This, he said, was bringing greater awareness to local companies
“A lot of the hotels are on board because they also can see and understand the need and the importance of protecting an area so that we have beaches for the future and product to sell in the years to come,” he said.
The 55-key property, which consists of a mix of cottages, suites and bungalows, and is popular among some of the world’s rich and famous, has also been focusing heavily on creating a greening culture among its employees and the wider community, especially through its foundation.
Creating this culture, Mais said, is a critical part of the process, adding that it was important for people to be a part of what was happening.
“Aside from the protection of the environment, there is a huge cost-saving benefit,” he said. “You are reducing your operating costs by becoming more green or sustainable. That is a big eye-opener for many when they see the benefits.”
marlonmadden@barbadostoday,bb
