Disaster Risk Management for Coastal Tourism - Caribbean Hotel ...

Disaster Risk Management For Coastal Tourism Destinations Responding To Climate Change
A Practical Guide For Decision Makers
Introduction of risk-based taxation and insurance premiums for infrastructure
located in highly vulnerable areas.
redevelopment projects and restrict redevelopment activities that will
exacerbate vulnerability in high risk areas.
of increased climate-risk. This geographic setting is very appealing to resort
developers and will continue to be highly sought after. Coasts and beaches are still
magnets for tourists and are the cornerstone of the tropical tourism experience.
Yet, the Caribbean region has already witnessed the actions of a major insurance
company abandoning its coastal resort clients at a popular island destination
because of the increased cost of underwriting their operations; and insurance
premiums for hotels have escalated over the past several years. With the upward
spiral of oil and food prices the operating environment has been dramatically altered
for the tourism industry. Coastal tourism communities and resorts are grappling with
escalating costs from these challenges and from repeated battering from coastal
hazards.
The choice is clear: climate-proof and resilient destinations and communities are
strategies that must be adopted and fast. The good news is that there is a wealth
of know-how, expertise and experience readily available from multiple sources.
conserving energy, natural resources and critical ecosystems, end up improving their
bottom-lines in the short and long term and creating shareholder value. Coastal
ecosystems naturally protect and nourish coastlines. These should be considered
a treasured national resource and treated accordingly with diligent care and
preservation.
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“Each natural disaster
leaves in its wake
an overwhelming
volume of evidence
of how planning
and investment
decisions contribute
to vulnerability – and
the consequent risk
of further disasters.
Natural Hazard Risk
Management in the
Caribbean: Revisiting
the Challenge.”
CGCED, 2002.
On the other hand, human communities and systems require preventative and
preparedness actions against disasters. The challenge is overcoming the apathy and
lack of will of politicians, entrepreneurs and residents. This, however, can also be
solved through awareness-raising of disaster events, enlightened leadership, public
and private sector cooperation and commitment to a common goal. That is, of a
tourism destination that delivers on its promise consistently and has an established
reputation for protecting its residents, businesses and visitors against the effects of
natural hazards.
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