By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association has teamed up with the Nature Conservancy with the goal of creating a more resilient Caribbean.

The organizations have signed an agreement to protect the environment and promote tourism sustainability.

“It’s a perfect match which brings together CHTA’s private sector members and The Nature Conservancy’s enormous science-based capacity for protecting the lands and waters on which all life and our industry depends,” said CHTA’s Chief Executive Officer and Director General Frank Comito, who together with Marci Eggers, The Nature Conservancy’s Deputy Director of the Caribbean Division, signed a Memorandum of Understanding earlier this summer.

TNC, a nonprofit organization, is currently active in 17 Caribbean countries and territories, where it is committed to protecting the ocean and coasts, safeguarding against the impacts of climate change, and restoring and conserving coral reefs. 

The MOU aims to broaden awareness of the value of coastal and marine resources and to promote education, both for tourists and the tourism industry, on the importance of protecting and restoring these resources for the well-being of future generations in the Caribbean. 

The agreement is a platform joining together the collective power of the two organizations and their networks to help restore and protect the Caribbean’s natural resources, upon which the tourism industry and the broader communities of the entire region depend. 

“It is in the best interests of both our organizations to work together to educate the broadest constituency on the value of preserving the beautiful coastlines, reefs, and waters of the Caribbean for future generations,” Eggers said. “The agreement with CHTA advances these efforts through collaboration, communication and activity implementation.”

The organizations will develop action plans together and leverage staff, budgets and funding to implement them.

The MOU will remain in force until June 30, 2021.

— CJ