Destination Tobago continues to leave its global mark in sustainable tourism development as two glass-bottom boats, Ms Ayana and Cool Runnings, were awarded the Blue Flag. This comes as a continuation of 2021, when the first tourism boat Top Catch Charters, was awarded the Blue Flag.
These three tourism boats were the only boats awarded with the Blue Flag in the entire English-speaking Caribbean, thanks to funding from the UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) Trinidad and Tobago.
The UNDP GEF SGP, which provides grant funds for projects focusing on biodiversity protection, nature restoration, pollution reduction, and climate change, funded the “Reducing environmental footprint and improving eco-friendly Blue Economy by supporting Blue Flag certification for small tour boat operators in Tobago” project, thanks to which the awarded boats were able to make sustainable adaptations and meet the Blue Flag criteria.
National Coordinator of GEF SGP Trinidad and Tobago Dr Sharda Mahabir shared her congratulations and expectations:
“GEF SGP is pleased to support Green T&T in their efforts to strengthen tourism by certifying boat operators under Blue Flag. This certification will put our beautiful sister isle on the map in terms of initiatives in support of the Blue Economy. We look forward to positive outcomes and benefits coming out of this project and more GEF SGP projects on the sister isle.”
© Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities & Transportation
The Blue Flag awarding ceremony took place at Pigeon Point Heritage Park, where the National Coordinator of Green T&T, Mrs Lewis, running the Blue Flag programme in Trinidad and Tobago, awarded the tourism boats together with the Tobago Tourism Agency. During the awarding ceremony Mrs Lewis stated her excitement:
“Becoming a sustainable tourism operator seemed almost impossible and out of reach for many of the tourism-based businesses in Trinidad and Tobago, especially since the Covid restrictions almost destroyed their businesses. However, time, commitment and passion for change motivated the new and existing operators to become advocates for the environment. Tobago is making its mark and championing the cause for real change in the environmental sphere.”
Moreover, Councillor Tashia Grace Burris of The Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation, responsible for tourism development of Tobago, encouraged new Blue Flag awardees to increase awareness about the Blue Flag programme and therefore add to Tobago’s destination competitiveness :
“Each of you who has now attained this standard now has the responsibility to talk to your friends in the sector… so that we can all aspire to meet these standards. If we have more and more persons coming onboard with certifications such as Blue Flag and Green Key, then Tobago is sending a signal – not just nationally, not just regionally, but internationally – that we are serious about our tourism offerings. We are serious about getting it right. We are serious about ensuring that the person who visits this island can get the highest quality of service and the highest quality of experience.”