ENVIRONMENTALISTS have always believed that tourism has the wherewithal to enhance and protect the environment in several ways. This includes educating those working in the industry to ensure that everyone subscribes to the mission of protecting the environment, providing funds and expertise for natural resources conservation, and lobbying to set sustainable use limits to protect natural attractions.

This was the message conveyed at the resort’s first annual environmental exposition held recently.

Speaking at the exposition was NEPA’s chief executive officer, Franklyn McDonald, who revealed that there is a move within the environmental fraternity to educate the next generation as to the importance of environmental conservation. This is being done through environmental education, which is being extended into the schools and communities.

By the next decade, he said, “every child should be environmentally-literate.”

The objective of the event was to promote environmental awareness among team members and to demonstrate that care and concern for the environment is an official part of the resort’s mandate.

According to Horace Peterkin, general manager of Sandals Montego Bay, “mankind has done more to destroy the environment in the last 100 years, than during the entire three millennia of our existence on Mother Earth.”

“Indeed the exponential growth of world tourism has contributed to this process,” Peterkin added.

Notwithstanding, “the tourism industry can provide support financially for conservation programmes by becoming watchdogs in efforts to preserve culture and history and setting sustainable use limits to protect natural attractions,” he added.

He noted however, that there is a growing movement of reversal and preventative actions among hotels worldwide and in Jamaica.

“These hotels include the Intercontinental, Ramada, Four Seasons and the Fairmont group out of Canada, Sandals Resorts, Half Moon Clubs and Negril Cabins.

These hospitality companies, he said, have instituted programmes focussing on preservation and protection covering areas such as proper waste management, air quality and energy conservation, noise pollution and recycling programmes.

Peterkin revealed that Sandals Montego Bay’s programme includes looking at recycling, waste management, energy conservation and the use of energy-friendly products.

He said that the resort has a water recycling programme where the over 70,000 gallons of water used daily is recycled and used in the resort’s irrigation system to water the lawns, garden beds, flowers and trees on the 26 acre property.

Also Sandals’ environmental manager, Donna Yitshak, revealed that since last January, solid environmental steps have been integrated in the resort’s daily operation resulting in record savings in several areas.

She said that 28,000 litres of water, 27,000 KWH, 48,000 gallons of diesel have been saved. Additionally, the programme has seen a vast reduction of solid waste sent to the landfill.

Richard May, Sandals Group environmental affairs manager, also reminded the audience that travel agencies worldwide were encouraging their clients to choose resorts which are environmentally responsible.

Ecotech Limited; Recycle for Life; Montego Bay Marine Park; the National Water Commission (NWC); National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA); the St James Health Department; the Forestry Department; and the Sanitation Support United all participated in the expo which was held under the theme, “Taking Environmental Awareness to the Next Generation”.