Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB) has launched “The Bonaire Bond,” a destination pledge inviting visitors to sign a promise to travel responsibly and strengthen the island’s resources. Sustainable tourism is critical to the livelihood of the island’s local community and to take it a step further, the island will adopt a coral tree through the Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire on behalf of visitors who commit to this cause with their signature for the next year starting on Earth Day, April 22, 2022. These coral trees nurture over 100 pieces of coral each, so the donation goes directly back to the rehabilitation of Bonaire’s reefs.
In the pledge, visitors are asked to commit to respecting the environment, to be mindful of the wildlife and to be aware of how inherently bonded the community is and long has been to the stewardship of its surroundings. It also serves as an educational tool on how to behave sustainably while on the island. Visitors are encouraged to digitally sign the pledge and also live it.
A lesser known Dutch Caribbean island by design, Bonaire is the world’s first Blue Destination, a certified Green Destination and the recipient of a QualityCoast Award, both recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
“Our island has been focused on sustainability long before it was a trend,” said Miles B. M. Mercera, CEO of TCB. “It’s always been in our DNA. Bonaire was the first Caribbean island to designate 100 percent of its surrounding water as a protected marine park in 1979, while 20 percent of our land, home to local wildlife, cacti and beaches, has been preserved inside the boundaries of Washington Slagbaai, the oldest national park in the former Netherlands Antilles, since 1969.”
Over 50 years later, this little island nation of only 21,000 people and no traffic lights is becoming popular with outdoor, ocean, and nature enthusiasts. The destination is committed to doing so consciously and attracting equally conscious global travelers seeking an unspoiled experience.
The TCB will use multiple channels to spread awareness and encourage travelers to commit to “The Bonaire Bond,” besides reaching out to local businesses and residents to join the movement and set an example while giving back to preserving the destination’s fragile ocean reefs.
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