Stephen Broadbridge
is ever changing and you must constantly create new paths to save. Culture: Real interaction with local peoples, not some native dance done on the deck of a massive cruse ship. Real interaction - staying with them, enjoying an evening at the rum shop, helping them cook a meal, Jab Jab, pan in the pan yard, jouvert, pelau, roti, doubles for breakfast; these are the unique Trini experiences they seek. Chatting with the two teeth Ras is just fine. Benefits local communities: A high percentage of the tourist dollars must go back to the local communities, guides and conservation organisations. Everything, from local investment to tax dollars, must be considered. Beyond the definition, one has to understand the target market - the ecotourist! These are educated people who are driven by passion; they love and enjoy life, all life. They are welltravelled, experienced and know what they want. You cannot fool them, you have to be genuine and provide excellent service. All of this means that ecotourism developments have to be genuine, well thought out and have several bottom lines; not just financial return on investment, but you must help develop the local economy, and have a strong, positive conservation project. A Wall Street type of investment where you get in, make a buck and get out does not work in ecotourism. You have to be in for the long haul for the right reasons.
Now that we know what ecotourism is, the question arises: What makes T&T an excellent ecotourism destination? Simply put, in T&T we offer the perfect mix of South American wilderness and adventure on Caribbean islands that gave the Caribbean its rhythm and the world the art of liming. Lying just seven miles off the coast of South America, Trinidad and sometimes Tobago is connected to the South American Continent during ice ages. Hence, our nature is essentially South American wilderness and geography crammed onto small islands. With more birds than the rest of the Caribbean, rugged mountain ranges with networks of trails for mountain biking or hiking, extensive wetlands and awe inspiring coasts for kayaking – they all combine to create the perfect place for the outdoors enthusiast. Tie that in with blue food, buss-up-shot and pound plantain in a culture that both invented and redefines liming around steel pan, parang and calypso “lyrics to turn a woman’s body into jelly” while discussing another carnival in October. This reality makes one ask: “Why the hell is T&T not a world leader in ecotourism?” That question will resound further on reading the following. Surveys done both by the North American Outdoors Industry Association and the Adventure Travel Trade Association conducted in 2008 to 2010 show that 25% of Americans engage in healthy outdoor activities! Over 66 million go out to view wildlife, 60 Business Trinidad & Tobago • 43