Sustainable tourism

The Lesser Antilles, has a unique culture that is different from the rest of the region. These island territories have a rich history that has breathed life into lovely traditions. These are slowly eroding under the weight of a strained economy and globalization. Various traditions and elements of heritage are gradually being lost. These include:

Historical facts and local tales
Small island tribal knowledge
“Close to nature” lifestyle

Traditional culinary arts
Agricultural and farming traditions
Local fishing traditions

Close Caribbean Encounters wants to affect a change in this trend. Our method is to partner with specific stakeholders in the tourism sector. The goal of our enterprise to realise sustainable tourism with our local and international stakeholders in eco-, community-, cultural and agritourism in these territories for the Dutch market initially.

We at CCE want to maintain a laser focus on the relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and targets for the tourism sector.

These are:

Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.9:

To “devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”.

Sustainable Development Goal target 12.b:

To “increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries”, through Sustainable Development Goals Target 14.7.

Sustainable Development Goal target 14.7

To “increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism”.

We also aim to realize our operations in a deliberate effort to engage with, and contribute to the efforts of The Netherlands as a UN Member States to:

“call for enhanced support for sustainable tourism activities and relevant capacity building in developing countries in order to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development”,
“support sustainable tourism activities and relevant capacity-building that promote environmental awareness, conserve and protect the environment, respect wildlife, flora, biodiversity, ecosystems and cultural diversity, and improve the welfare and livelihoods of local communities”, and
“encourage the promotion of investment in sustainable tourism, including eco-tourism and cultural tourism, which may include creating small and medium sized enterprises and facilitating access to finance, including through microcredit initiatives for the poor, indigenous peoples and local communities in areas with high eco-tourism potential” (United Nations, Future We Want, paragraph 130 and 131, 2012).
Sustainable tourism truly has the potential to be a key contributor for sustainable development in the Dutch Caribbean. And we at CCE aim to do all in our power to help this become a reality.

The company aims to establish and market itself as a culturally focused and socially responsible enterprise. In its efforts to do so, Close Caribbean Encounters strives to:

Facilitate local businesses
Practice corporate citizenship
Restrict environmental impact as far as possible
Enable local efforts for preservation of local culture
Promote awareness and regard for Dutch Caribbean nature and culture

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