More and more countries are welcoming travellers again and many Canadians are eagerly looking forward to future travel plans. How Destinations Are Commiting To their Communities
More than ever, destinations are making travel more meaningful, offering visitors opportunities to be a part of the positive change, leaving communities better than they found them.
Destinations like Barbados have long been celebrating their local stories, putting people at the heart of the destination. California proudly promotes their Responsible Travel Code to garner respect for their communities and environments, and Belize infuses their commitment to sustainability within most of their travel experiences, like the Fish Right, Eat Right certification program that encourages visitors to eat local and appreciate local marine customs. Belize’s Minister of Tourism also shared a special message for all future visitors on World Tourism Day.
The World Economic Forum recently made clear the importance of inclusivity and sustainability in the path forward for world-wide destinations.
Here are some of the ways that Barbados, Belize, California, Miami, Northern Virginia and San Francisco have infused responsibility, inclusivity and commitment to their communities through tourism:
BARBADOS | www.visitbarbados.org
- Rum Sustainability: Founded in 1893, the West Indies Rum Distillery is the first distillery in the Caribbean to achieve the Bonsucro Chain of Custody certification, which recognizes responsible sourcing and trading. The distillery also installed a million-dollar solar energy plant to reduce its environmental impact as it makes efforts to reach carbon-neutrality by 2030. Mount Gay, the world’s oldest running rum distillery, recently partnered with 4Ocean to support the removal of plastics from the ocean to help restore the world’s oceans, which have played a huge part in the brand’s history. As part of its multi-faceted sustainability program, Mount Gay also has the goal to be employing 100% sustainable agriculture by 2025.
- Harrison’s Cave Eco Adventure (2022): One of Barbados’s top attractions, Harrison’s Cave, is currently being transformed into an activity centre for outdoor enthusiasts. Additions to the newly renamed Harrison’s Cave Eco Adventure include a dry slide, a free-swinging bridge across the gully, a zipline, a freefall tower, a challenge course, and an adventure zone, among other features intended to enhance the surrounding areas of the attraction to preserve the cave. How Destinations Are Commiting To their Communities
BELIZE | www.travelbelize.org
- Chaa Creek Eco Lodge: Belize’s Chaa Creek Lodge is one of the many Belizean properties that remains dedicated to giving back to the community and preserving the beauty of Belize. The award-winning property educates guests on the importance of conservation by offering activities that put the guests in the middle of the conservation efforts, like theButterfly Release Program. A cocooning butterfly is left in each guest room, along with a release poem and instructions on how to release the butterfly into the wild, to directly connect guests with the message of conservation in an unforgettable way. How Destinations Are Commiting To their Communities
- Fish Right, Eat Right Program : As a collaboration between the Belize Tourism Board and the Belize Fisheries department, the Fish Right, Eat Right certification program is an initiative to promote the best fishing practices in Western Belize and reward restaurants within the region that follow these practices. Guests to these restaurants benefit from fresh local cuisine that is catered in a sustainable manner and prevents endangering the species within the region.
CALIFORNIA | www.visitcalifornia.com
- Eco-Wineries in NorCal: Sonoma County and Napa Valley are not only world renown wine regions, but they are leaders in sustainable winery practices as well. More than 65 per cent of Napa Valley Vintners’ members participate in the Napa Green Certified Winery programs, and more than 40 wineries have comprehensive Soil-to-Bottle certification in both. Round Pond Estate Winery, for example, promotes positive plant-soil interactions and emphasizes a reduction in the use of chemicals and pesticides. In Sonoma County, Anaba Wines became the first in NorCal to use wind to power their operations using a 45-foot Skystream wind turbine. The famed wine regions incorporate sustainability into their wineries not only to produce better wines, but to take care of the land for future generations.
- The California Responsible Travel Code helps travellers become mindful travellers by celebrating diversity and championing open-mindedness. The Golden State firmly believes that respect is the key to keeping each other safe as we take on a new normal of travel and it is imperative in preserving all of California’s natural beauty. The code encourages travellers to follow their joy and take on fresh perspectives when travelling throughout the state andis these practices are best remembered through the acronym RESPECT:
R = Roam Responsibly
E = Educate Myself
S = Safety First
P = Preserve California
E = Embrace Community
C = Celebrate Culture
T = Teach Others How Destinations Are Commiting To their Communities
- Preserving the National and State Parks: Upon the state’s official reopening to tourism on June 15, 2021, visitors flocked to California’s many National Parks to enjoy the state’s great wide-open spaces. To mitigate this demand, many of California’s parks put extra measures in place to ensure visitors and locals’ safety was first and foremost considered, but to also ensure the parks are not overwhelmed. For example, Yosemite National Park enforced a day-use reservation system for vehicles entering the park. To educate yourself on California’s National and State Park updates, see here.
MIAMI | www.miamiandbeaches.com
- Sustainability Efforts: Miami is home to one of the world’s most unique and delicate ecosystems, from Biscayne Bay’s mangrove islands to the Atlantic Ocean’s coral reefs and Gulf Stream current. Miami is also at the forefront of resiliency and sustainability efforts when it comes to sea level rise and climate change and works to give visitors the opportunity to contribute to this good doing. For example, the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station is dedicated to caring for and rehabilitating brown pelicans, all native seabirds, mammals and reptiles and it hosts monthly seabird cruises on Biscayne Bay to help educate the public about Miami’s marine ecosystem.
- The Art of Miami is a platform organized by the Greater Miami Conventions and Visitor Bureau to showcase the visual arts accomplishments of the Black community in the city, nationally, and across the world. The Art of Black Miami Podcast Series is one component of this platform that shares the stories of emerging and experienced artists who make Miami an exciting place to live and visit, like Addonis Parker – the Miami muralist and restorationist who’s murals can be found in legendary neighbourhoods like Historic Overtown and Liberty City.
- The Haitian Heritage Museum in Miami remembers and celebrates the history of the first Black Republic in the world. The museum showcases a mosaic of Haitian art, historic artifacts, Haitian music and literary works from the region, giving visitors to Miami the opportunity to learn about the destination’s rich culture and history.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA | www.northernva.org
- African American History Trail: Prince William County’s African American History Trail features monumental historic sites that commemorate the community’s arts and culture in the United States. Visitors to Northern Virginia can add this trail to their itinerary to learn more about the regions place in history.
- Sully Historic Site Private Family Tour:In Fairfax County, the Sully Historic Site Private Family Tour enlightens visitors to the history of Black Americans from the area that are sometimes forgotten in the history books. Titled “Who were they?” the tour features the stories of many enslaved workers who lived and worked in the region. Travellers can book a tour through the site here.
SAN FRANCISCO | www.sftravel.com
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area: Designated by UNESCO as a biodiversity hotspot, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area features 19 different ecosystems. The area is home to 1,400 historic structures and almost 4,000 plant and animal species, native biological richness that rivals the Equatorial rainforest. Park visitors can celebrate local nature in an urban setting and even leave the destination learning more about invasive species and biodiversity. How Destinations Are Commiting To their Communities
- I AM SAN FRANCISCO is a local initiative created by two San Francisco-based documentary photographers to showcase the city. The project shares stories of the people who make up the fabric of San Francisco and highlights their love for the city. Romulo Melo’s, for example, immigrated from Brazil at 21 years old and made San Francisco the home of his jiu-jitsu practice. This powerful project is one of the many ways that the city ensures that a spotlight is cast on the incredible voices of the community and cultures that make up San Francisco.