MICHES, Dominican Republic – A mutual commitment to sustainability has led to the Fundación Tropicalia (FT) and the Inter-American Development Bank’s Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) collaboration. Fundación Tropicalia’s innovative, socio-economic development project, which will incorporate local businesses into Tropicalia’s supply chain, received the first of two approvals for funding from the IDB earlier this fall. Currently still in the design phase, this partnership is focused on devising an inclusive business model and procurement methodology that supports the development of the municipality of Miches as a tourist destination, while simultaneously promoting economic growth and poverty reduction. By year end, the technical teams from Fundación Tropicalia and the MIF plan to present this sustainable tourism project for final approval.
What is sustainable tourism?
Many of us speak of sustainability within the tourism sector in general terms, yet there are actually specific principles that grant a destination the “sustainable tourism” label. Some insight from Adriana Cisneros de Griffin, CEO of Tropicalia, helps put the sustainable tourism model in perspective:
“With tourism representing approximately 11% of global GDP and 7% of total job creation in Latin America, one can hardly dispute the industry’s profound economic and social implications. Tourism not only acts as the driving force behind wealth creation in many countries, but when judiciously exercised, it also encourages gender equity and youth participation; protects, restores and preserves the environment; and honors local cultural heritage. This is what I know to be sustainable tourism – a model that promotes economic development, encourages business to generate progressive, innovative solutions to ever-changing social and industry demands, and allows the tourist enterprise to compete successfully over the long run by striking a careful balance between today’s needs and those of tomorrow.”
How does sustainable tourism benefit Miches and beyond?
The vision for Tropicalia has always been holistic — one of sustainability, integration and social inclusion. To that end, Tropicalia has been executing community programs via the Fundación Tropicalia, in areas key to business, society and environment since 2008. FT works in four program areas: education, productivity, environment and wellbeing, and caters its initiatives to the specific needs of Tropicalia’s most prized stakeholder – the Miches community.
Tropicalia also wants its visitors to safely, comfortably and harmoniously experience the local culture and natural habitat of the region. The only way to guarantee this experience is to support the sustainable development and integration of all stakeholders in Miches and beyond. So while every strategy caters to the project in particular, Tropicalia also seeks to bolster sustainable tourism trends taking place elsewhere in the country, fostering an environment that is friendly to foreign investment by linking economic opportunities to responsible development.
Indeed, the team’s efforts have nurtured an in-depth knowledge of the day-to-day lives of local and national stakeholders, their perceptions and expectations; working together to build a common future has been by far the most exciting part of this endeavor.
