New product development, climate change and the creation of a cultural and natural heritage mapping data base have been identified as priority risk areas that will be addressed over the next 12-months by the Nassau/Paradise Island tourism industry, in response to a sustainable destination assessment.

These areas were targeted for an ‘action agenda’ in response to risks identified during a Rapid Sustainable Destination Diagnostic for Nassau/Paradise Island.

Ministry of Tourism executives, along with officials from the Sustainable Destinations Alliance for the Americas (SDAA), yesterday announced the results of an evaluation which develops an overview of a destination’s performance based on 118 sustainability indicators.

The Nassau/Paradise Island assessment brought together 70 local stakeholders to validate the results of the assessment, and to develop a plan to address priority risks and opportunities identified.

Seleni Matus, the lead assessor, said that based on the assessment, Nassau/Paradise Island has a ‘fair’ amount of risks to address.

“We looked at 23 key themes ranging across four pillars of sustainability,” Ms Matus said. “We looked at policies, governance structures, to what extent the community is involved in and benefiting  from tourism, as well as how cultural and naturals sites are being managed.

     “Finally, we looked at a host of environmental issues. We had 17 per cent of those indicators scoring green. Of the 23, there were four themes  that were marked green. Of the 23 themes, 11 were rated yellow, which means that you have demonstrated progress on those indicators.

“If you look at the total number of themes rated yellow and green, you are a little over 50 per cent. At the same time there were 35 per cent of all the themes that were rated red, meaning you have a  fair level of risks to address; hopefully address urgently.

 Ms Matus said the Nassau/Paradise Island industry will look at the creation of new products, in particular the historical townships and how they can be more included.

“They will also be looking at climate change, looking at risk mapping and educating the community, as well as engaging tourism on this. They will also be developing an integrated cultural and natural heritage mapping database,” said Ms Matus.

   “In the area of environmental issues there are two issues. Solid waste management is a big one that needs attention. There is no plan that would have some basic goals for reduction. Recycling is an area that is still largely unattended.

“There are no programmes that are engaging the tourism sector, which are important contributors to generating waste in general, and can be an important part of that effort. There is also climate change, especially adaptation strategies. It deserves attention. The private sector needs to be a part of that.”