UN Tourism and The Bahamas promote sustainable tourism innovation in the Caribbean

International

A new innovation challenge highlights local start-ups developing resilient tourism solutions for island destinations across the region

UN Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation of The Bahamas have spotlighted a new generation of tourism innovators through the Bahamas Sustainable Islands Challenge, an initiative designed to support sustainable and resilient tourism development across the Caribbean.

The programme was launched to strengthen the region’s emerging start-up ecosystem while encouraging greater investment, stronger public-private cooperation and increased collaboration between Caribbean destinations.

According to UN Tourism, the initiative reflects growing efforts to position innovation as a key driver of resilience for Small Island Developing States.

Focus on sustainability and local solutions

The challenge recognised projects in areas including marine conservation, community-based tourism and green technology for tourism operations.

Among the winners were Bluequest Bahamas in the Ocean and Marine Conservation category, Access Island Guide in Local and Community-based Tourism, and Out Island Water Company Recycling Program in Green Tech for Sustainable Tourism. The recycling initiative by Out Island Water Company was also named overall winner of the Bahamas Sustainable Islands Innovation Challenge.

Runner-up awards went to Island Bey Coastal Stewards and Coco Bliss Bahamas.

Building a resilient tourism ecosystem

“Tourism accounts for 15 percent of GDP in The Bahamas, making it both an economic engine and a source of vulnerability,” said Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism.

“We are identifying solutions and building a pipeline of entrepreneurs able to address critical challenges in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean, while helping to catalyse a fast-emerging regional start-up ecosystem,” she added.

Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation of The Bahamas, described the initiative as an example of how island destinations can drive tourism transformation through innovation.

“The Bahamas Sustainable Island Challenge demonstrates how small island destinations can lead global tourism transformation through innovation,” Cooper said.

Mentoring and international support for finalists

The six finalists received mentoring support from organisations including the Caribbean Climate Innovation Center, the United Nations Development Programme, Tech Beach Retreat, UnTours and the Tourism Development Corporation of The Bahamas.

All finalists received seed funding and will join the UN Tourism Global Innovation Network. In addition, they will receive scholarships for the UN Tourism Online Academy, while the overall winner will gain access to additional acceleration programmes.

The challenge also received support from partners including the Inter-American Development Bank and Katapult Ventures.

According to UN Tourism, the initiative is intended to serve as a long-term model for strengthening tourism innovation ecosystems across Caribbean island destinations and other Small Island Developing States.