Developing Ecotourism

Overview
Projects
Success
Research
Places
Cruise ships sail near the Cayman Islands. © CI/Photo by Russell A. Mittermeier
Cruise ships sail near the Cayman Islands.
© CI/Photo by Russell A. Mittermeier
Achievements

  • We have demonstrated how tourism can help provide financing for, and better management of, parks and protected areas. In partnership with the Ghana Wildlife Service, we built a canopy walkway and visitor center to help attract tourists to Kakum National Park in Ghana’s Central Region. In addition, CI is now working with private investors to build international quality tourism accommodations in Central Suriname Nature Reserve.

  • We created the Ocean Conservation and Tourism Alliance, a partnership with the cruise line industry that focuses on reducing the environment footprint of cruise ships and promoting ways that the cruise lines and their passengers, crew and business partners can help conserve biodiversity in the areas that the ships visit.

  • We have developed practical guidebooks for a variety of key audiences including communities, small business owners, hoteliers, marine recreation providers and tour operators. In partnership with George Washington University, we have produced a manual for assessing tourism’s potential, for use by donors and practitioners, and are writing a specialist training course.

  • In partnership with the Prince of Wales’ International Business Leaders Forum, we have produced the first set of guiding principles for Sustainable Hotel Siting, Design and Construction. Nine of the world's largest hotel companies – including Marriott, Hilton and Starwood – actively supported the development of the book and are now determining how best to implement the principles outlined.

  • In partnership with the National Geographic Society, we have organized the World Legacy Awards, to showcase and reward best practices in tourism management for biodiversity conservation.

  • In partnership with the International Finance Corporation and the Overseas Promotion Investment Corporation, we have demonstrated the triple-bottom line impacts of investing in ecotourism. The success of our debt and equity investments has demonstrated to the larger commercial financing community of the investment viability of ecotourism
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