By Claudia Gardner, Gleaner WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
DIRECTOR OF Environment and Natural Resources at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Jamaica, Howard Batson, has warned the nation to take a responsible environmental approach to prevent the physical development of tourism from "severely straining the island's natural resources."
Speaking at the Third Annual Environmental Exposition staged by Sandals Montego Bay on Wednesday for St. James-based schools, clubs and colleges, Mr Batson called for a paradigm shift towards sustainable tourism, diversification of the tourism product and the promoting of "Green Tourism" in Jamaica.
"The tourism industry is indeed at the centre of growth and development in Jamaica," Mr Batson said. "It is ironic, however, that the tourism industry has reached to such a scale and scope that it threatens to destroy the very natural resources, culture and heritage on which it depends."
"We should recognise that we have to be very careful how we proceed with tourism, as we need to protect these natural resources," Mr Batson declared. "Tourism generates foreign exchange and creates jobs, but tourism can strain the country's natural resources. Ecologically sound environmental practices are vital for the sustainability of the sector," the environmental expert reiterated.
While appealing for a shift towards sustainable tourism in Jamaica, Mr Batson noted that Tourism would not be sustainable unless the major players in the industry worked with the people who are supposed to benefit from the industry.
Mr Batson also indicated that the USAID was actively and successfully promoting sustainable tourism, collaborating in projects with Ridge to Reef, the Forestry Department, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and a number of hotels across the island.
He encouraged the Green Globe certified hotels in Jamaica to market themselves as green hotels in order to diversify the island's tourism product.
The exposition was staged by the Sandals Montego Bay's Environmental Department and saw displays from several Non-Government Organisations and government agencies, including the Dolphin Head Trust (DHT), Negril Environmental Protection Trust (NEPT), Montego Bay Marine Park, Rural Agricultural Development Authority, Forestry Department and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).
