Blue Flag Award goes to three Tobago tour boat operators: a first for the English- speaking Caribbean

by with No Comment Blue Flag News

With financial assistance from the UNDP GEF SPG Trinidad and Tobago Green Innovator Challenge https://www.facebook.com/GEFSGPTT, three tour boat operators in Tobago received the internationally recognised Blue Flag award.

The Blue Flag certification for beaches, boats, and marinas https://www.blueflag.global/ is a highly valuable branding and marketing tool for eco-friendly services and speaks specifically to the European tourism source markets. This programme has been operating in Europe since 1987 working to bring together the tourism and environmental sectors at local, regional and national levels to ensure sustainable tourism. It is managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education https://www.fee.global. Currently, the Blue Flag is flying at over 4,800 sites in 50 countries and has over 80 Blue Flag-awarded boat operators worldwide

The certification process in Tobago was facilitated by Green T&T https://green-tt.org, the National Operator for the Blue Flag programme and endorsed by the Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd, Tobago’s Destination Management Organisation https://www.visittobago.gov.tt.

Joanna Moses-Wothke, CEO of Green T&T further elaborates:

“This major achievement means the boat operators understood and complied with strict international standards pertaining to environmental management, environmental education and information, safety and services, as well as social responsibility; they are now ready to reap the marketing and sales benefits of this prestigious award.”

The Tobago boat operators were trained by Green T&T to reduce their environmental footprint, improve their environmental interpretation skills, and use Blue Flag as a post-COVID recovery tool to meet Blue Flag’s stringent performance criteria.

Ms Shivonne Peters, Manager of Top Catch Charters explains the significance of recertification of the Blue Flag award:

“Our second Blue Flag award is especially thrilling for us at Top Catch Charters. For the second year, we have fulfilled our goal of providing eco-friendly tours and reducing our environmental impact. It’s not just about Top Catch Charters but also about the transformation of Tobago’s tourism industry. Sustainable tourism is possible and Top Catch Charters intends to continue this drive and provide the highest standard possible, not only with respect to our environmental regulations but also our guest experience.”

Dr Sharda Mahabir, National Coordinator GEF SGP UNDP, also extended 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.”

Trinidad and Tobago is making its mark and championing the cause for real change regarding sustainable tourism, post Covid-recovery, and climate change resilience.

(Left to right) Blue Flag awardee Mr. Ronnie Elliott, Mrs. Michelle Lewis, Secretary Tashia Burris, TTAL Board Director Ms. Avion Hercules, Mrs. Kirsten Cowie-Irvine, and Blue Flag awardee Mr. Dexter Black with the Blue Flag on Pigeon Point Jetty. [Photo courtesy Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities & Transportation] 

Two Buccoo Reef tour boats- Miss Ayana and Cool Runnings, have been granted the Blue Flag award for the first time Top Catch Charters of Buccoo, Tobago was also recertified for the 2022- 2023 Blue Flag season.

Green Key logo in colour NO text

Tobago properties achieve International Green Key Award

by with No Comment Uncategorized

On April 29, 2021 the Green Key National Jury of Trinidad and Tobago unanimously awarded two (2) tourism accommodation properties the internationally recognised Green Key. Bananaquit and Shepherd’s Inn, both located in Crown Point Tobago, now hold the prestigious eco-label and can rightfully boast that their operations are committed to sustainable tourism practices. These two (2) properties are currently the only Green Key certified sites in the English-Speaking Caribbean.  Commenting on the achievement, Rachel Best, Manager of Bananaquit writes,

“Bananaquit has always tried to operate in a way which has the least impact on the environment. Tobago is still an untouched, unspoiled beautiful island and we want to be a part of keeping it that way. That is what our guests and visitors keep coming back for. We are excited to be approved by Green Key and are eager to work together with Green T&T in forging a way ahead for a greener, cleaner and more sustainable Tobago.”

Garden view at Bananaquit

Green Key is an international voluntary eco-label awarded to tourism accommodations and other hospitality facilities that commit to sustainable business practices. Presently, there are more than 3,200 hotels and other establishments awarded in 65 countries. Awarded establishments adhere to strict criteria which are independently verified through regular on-site audits. These criteria address thirteen (13) aspects of the property’s operation ranging from resource consumption to education and stakeholder involvement. Green T&T, the National Operator for the Green Key Programme in Trinidad and Tobago, worked closely with both properties to ensure that each operator was able to meet and, in some cases, exceed each of the criteria set forward. Tenisha Brown-Williams, National Coordinator for the Green Key programme applauded the achievement and stated,

“In spite of the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic to the local tourism sector, Bananaquit and Shepherd’s Inn have both demonstrated remarkable effort in assuring that their operations are environmentally sustainable. The achievement of the international Green Key award by these properties during this difficult period adds credence to the positioning of Tobago as an unspoilt, untouched Caribbean island that is committed to sustainable tourism development, not in word only, but in action. With the imminent restart of global travel, Tobago through the continued implementation of the Green Key programme will gain significant competitive advantage in the minds of the environmentally conscious traveller. Tobago is proving to the world that it is a small island with a big heart for sustainable tourism.” 

Poolside at Shepherd’s Inn

“Green Key will play a pivotal role in the sustainability of the hotel. Mainly by protecting the environment, conserving water and energy. I am happy to be part of that development. It is an honour to be Green Key certified.“

Colin Shepherd, Owner of Shepherd’s Inn

The Green Key programme is jointly executed in Tobago by Green T&T and the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited (TTAL). For TTAL, the Green Key programme is seamlessly aligned with its ‘Tobago Beyond Ordinary’ brand, and its “unspoilt, untouched, undiscovered” tagline. As an advocate for responsible and sustainable tourism initiatives, the Agency has been working on empowering local tourism stakeholders to project the core appeals of the island, and to raise the standard and quality of sustainable tourism products. To this end, TTAL continues to collaborate with local and international NGO’s such as Green T&T to direct change and development within the industry, while enhancing the sustainability of destination Tobago.

“With two accommodation establishments attaining Green Key accreditation, it signals incipient signs of a synergy between the private sector and the policy intent to position Tobago as an authentic, sustainable tourism destination post COVID-19. One of the most important facets of this programme is that it raises awareness and creates behavioural changes in guests, staff, and suppliers of individual tourism establishments which has a ripple effect throughout the tourism sector. We endorse this initiative and want to encourage all accommodation providers on the island to consider engaging in this programme, not only for its competitive advantage and positioning, but because it is the right thing to do for the environment.”

Louie Lewis, CEO of TTAL

The Green Key programme is owned and managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) located in Denmark with affiliations and endorsements by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). 

One of the foundational principles of FEE and the Green Key programme is the use of local stakeholders in key decision-making processes. As such, the decision to award an establishment the Green Key certification is made by a National Green Key Jury. In Trinidad and Tobago, the Jury comprises of representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Division of Tourism, Culture and Transportation- Tobago House of Assembly, Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards, Department of Environment- Tobago House of the Assembly, Environmental Management Authority, Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association, Tobago Hospitality & Tourism Institute, Tobago Hospitality & Tour Operators Association, Council of Presidents of The Environment (COPE) and Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd.