Royal Caribbean's Ocean Fund has made possible a new initiative by the Caribbean island of Roatán to become the first tourist destination in Honduras to complete a comprehensive 360-degree assessment and action plan for destination-level sustainability.
The project aims to allow Roatán's thriving tourism industry to have a long-term support for the environment that draws so many tourists. Of all the tourists that visit Honduras, 55% go to Roatán.
The Rapid Sustainable Destination Diagnostic was carried out by the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative in close collaboration with global non-profit organization Sustainable Travel International, Honduras’ Ministry of Tourism and Roatán’s local Geotourism Council.
The evaluation of Roatán’s performance was based on five elements of sustainability: sustainable tourism planning and governance, economic linkages, preservation of cultural heritage, social and community issues, and environmental protection.