Royal Caribbean Ocean Fund Helps Support Roatan Tourism Sustainability Action Plan

Royal Caribbean's Ocean Fund has made possible a new initiative by the Caribbean island of Roatan 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 Roatan'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 Roatan.

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 Roatan’s local Geotourism Council.

The evaluation of Roatan’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.