Innovative sustainable tourism project advances in Varadero and the keys

An innovative sustainable tourism project is revolutionizing the approach to operations and service at 16 hotels located in Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo, in the province of Ciego de Ávila, and Varadero in Matanzas, as part of a program supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility.

The design and implementation of innovative management models, and the development of capacities and financial mechanisms will allow, over a period of six years (2023-2029), to raise the paradigms of tourism sustainability and incorporate the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and climate change mitigation in vulnerable marine-coastal areas, according to a report by the Cubadebate website.

From gastronomy to room design, the program is aligned with environmental and social principles, according to the website, highlighting the new policies adopted, which prioritize protecting coastal ecosystems, prioritizing domestic products and reducing resource consumption.

Four pillars underpin this program: Ocean Love (beach monitoring and cleaning), Conscious Footprint (use of renewable energy and emissions reduction), Responsible Cuisine (connection with local fishing and agricultural cooperatives), and Circular Economy (systems to reuse 90% of waste).

Guests are invited to join in the experience with the opportunity to participate in programs that involve them in mangrove reforestation.

Hotel experiences reveal positive steps in sustainability

Yirma Mederos Suárez, Material and Tourism Resources specialist at the Iberostar Origin Daiquirí hotel, explained to the press that the facility’s focus is not only on reducing waste, but also on actively protecting biodiversity both within the hotel and its coastal surroundings.

In this regard, they have worked on training staff in sustainable practices, providing information to guests on the functioning of the circular economy, applying the 3Rs principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), adopted ISO standards on energy and environmental management, and completely eliminated single-use plastic from the hotel.

Deputy Maitre at the Meliá Cayo Coco Hotel, Miriela Bueno de la Rosa, added that the hotel has taken energy efficiency and conservation measures, maintained an active program to protect native species, established regulatory distances for walkways and umbrellas on the beach, and established a special waste collection system.