On the 28th and 30th July 2020, the Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd. (TTAL) in partnership with Green T&T officially launched the Tobago Green Key programme through the virtual engagement of approximately forty (40) owners and managers of small and large tourism accommodation facilities in Tobago.
The Green Key award is a leading standard of excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry. There are over 3200 Green Key sites globally with a heavy concentration of these sites within Tobago’s key source market of the United Kingdom and Europe. The decision taken by the TTAL to encourage local tourism establishments in Tobago to be Green Key certified is a strategic one given the global demand for an eco-friendlier tourism and signals strong commitment and action to raising the standard of quality at the destination and the overall international appeal of destination Tobago. Narendra Ramgulam, Director Tourism Product Development & Destination Management at the TTAL states “Green Key is critically important to ensure that we develop and encourage low carbon footprint products for our destination. This not only gives us an attractive appeal in the eyes of our eco-seeking global customers especially from the UK and Germany, but it raises the standard and quality of sustainable products on the island of Tobago and enhances development that are in sync with our image and brand. Both the Green Key and Blue Flag Certification – an ecolabel for beaches and marinas, will give us an edge and competitive advantage over our competitors. Our stakeholders have shown an interest in engaging in the Green Key programme, not only for its competitive advantage but because they believe that it is the right thing to do from an environmental perspective and this augers well for the future of the industry here.”
This prestigious eco-label represents a commitment from tourism business owners that their establishments adhere to the strict international criteria as stipulated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). A guest opting to stay at a Green Key awarded property is one of the greatest ways a guest can make a difference on an environmental and sustainability level. Green T&T, a local environmental non-governmental organization acts as the national operator on behalf of FEE in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) for the coordination of both the Green Key and Blue Flag programmes. Green T&T is dedicated to increasing environmental awareness and improving environmental consciousness through education and environmental certification in T&T. Tenisha Brown-Williams, Green Key Coordinator at Green T&T believes in this COVID-19 period, those destinations that commit and follow through with solid environmental practices will gain competitive advantages since travellers are now more conscious of how safety, sanitation and environmental practices will aid in preserving their well-being. The Green Key certification, she states, can boost Tobago’s visibility and appeal on the international market to the ‘green traveller’ who will visit Tobago’s pristine and unique environment and act responsibly.
The Green Key programme is currently open to the following categories within the hospitality and tourism sector: Hotel & Hostel and Small Accommodation and will later include Attractions, Restaurants and Conference Centers in Tobago. For further information in attaining the prestigious Green Key award, please visit https://green-tt.org/green-key/ or https://www.visittobago.gov.tt/corporate/trade-resources/green-key or contact the TTAL at +868 612 8825 ext. 2005 or email: kcowie@tobagotourism.org or email the National Green Key Coordinator at greenkey@green-tt.org
