Caribbean Tourism Organization Chief: “Sustainability Is Our Currency” 

It’s no secret that the Caribbean is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. That means taking immediate action to protect tourism-dependent destinations like the Caribbean is more essential than ever, according to Dona Regis-Prosper, secretary general of the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organization. 

Prosper, who was speaking this week in Berlin on a panel on “Steering Tourism in Challenging Times,” said there was a need for both practical tools and financing to help regions like the Caribbean navigate the uncertain world of a changing climate. 

“Sustainability is our currency,” Regis-Prosper said. “At least eight out of the 10 most [tourism]-dependent nations in the entire world are based in the Caribbean. And for some of our destinations, up to 80 percent of GDP is tourism-based.”

While many destinations within the region have already taken concrete steps toward sustainability, from banning single-use plastics to promoting community tourism, financing access remains a challenge. 

“There’s a saying that faith without works is dead. We certainly have the faith in the Caribbean. We are willing to work – we are hardworking people – but the gap is that access to financing, and that’s how you get to work,” Regis-Prosper said. 

The panel was held during the ITB Berlin conference, which organizers said attracted more than 100,000 visitors to the global tourism conference.