Solimar International - A Sustainable tourism consulting and marketing

With tourism having grown over 70% over the past decade in Bocas del Toro, unplanned tourism development is putting tremendous pressure on the area’s natural resources. There is little awareness among the actors in the tourism value chain of the potential negative impacts tourism can have on the environment. As a result, Bocas del Toro risks losing its pristine environment-which is the area’s main attraction and principal reason why tourists visit.

Solimar’s overall objective in Bocas del Toro is to establish a sustainable tourism cluster that will increase the competitiveness of sustainable tourism operations, generate increased revenue for tourism linked to conservation, and improve the environmental performance of local private sector tourism operations.


The Bocas Sustainable Tourism Alliance (BSTA) was established to serve as a Destination Management Organization for the region. It is comprised of and managed by Bocas del Toro’s many tourism-based enterprises and supports the marketing efforts of member businesses through print materials and a web site dedicated to promoting Bocas del Toro’s many natural and cultural attractions. Additionally, the Alliance undertakes conservation efforts to preserve the cultural and ecological landscape of the Bocas del Toro archipelago.		Membership in the Bocas Sustainable Tourism Alliance is open to local hotels, tour operators, restaurants, and community-based tourism organizations. One of the many benefits of BSTA membership includes marketing opportunities within the new tourist information located in the center in Bocas Town on Isla Colon. The BSTA will open and operate this center to provide travel-planning assistance to visitors, offer reservation services of BSTA member products and services, and sell local handicrafts and Bocas branded merchandise.

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OUTCOMES

• Over 50 new members joining the BSTA within its first year of operations;

• Over $50,000 in revenue generated through the Tourism Information Center in the first year through membership fees, merchandise sales, and commissions for tour bookings. A percentage of profits will be used to support conservation efforts in the region;

• Local committees established and working collectively to address issues facing the destination (a local waste management committee has already been formed);

• Sustainable tourism packages and day tours developed that create direct linkages between various groups within the DMO;

• A comprehensive marketing and branding strategy developed and implemented;

• At least ten hotels within Bocas del Toro with improved environmental performance through the implementation of Rainforest Alliance’s best management practices program.

OUTCOMES

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