As defined by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), ecotourism is "responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and improve the welfare of local people." While eco-tourism is still a new to the tourism industry, it's growing up to 34% a year - three times faster than the tourism industry as a whole. Vacationers living an eco-friendly lifestyle state that eco-tourism is important to them when they travel.

"We are proud to be at the forefront of globally responsible eco-tourism in the Out Islands of The Bahamas." said Mike Hartman, Vice President of the Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board. "We have several eco-friendly hotels to help guide travelers wanting to live an eco-friendly lifestyle while on vacation, without sacrificing the quality of their experience."

Many hotels in the Out Islands of The Bahamas have proactively responded to this increase in awareness and are working to make eco-tourism in The Bahamas a priority. Several hotels have started by offering eco-tours, like Small Hope Bay Lodge on Andros Island and Fernandez Bay Village on Cat Island, Bahamas. From replacing light bulbs with more energy efficient florescent bulbs to installing solar power systems, Out Island hotels are doing their part to protect the environment.

Tiamo Resorts in South Andros, Bahamas, is one of the most earth-kind resorts in the world. Tiamo is the first full service resort utilizing 100% solar energy for its electrical needs, including a commercial kitchen catering to both resort guests and a restaurant business. They offer a thermal hot water system in each bungalow, a waste water system for toilets, showers, sinks and laundry wastewater. From the initial design and construction of the resort to guest education and their immense community involvement, Tiamo Resorts has received several internationally recognized awards and a large amount of media attention for their contributions to eco-tourism in the Bahama Out Islands.

Powell Pointe Resort at Cape Eleuthera in South Eleuthera, Bahamas, has installed solar applications for laundry, guest showers and hot water tanks for restaurants. Additionally, it uses solar power for fresh water pumps at all their 100 water wells and for their wash down and fish cleaning stations.

Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort in Long Island, Bahamas, has replaced their boardwalk lights and tree lights to solar powered lights along with replacing all their incandescent lights throughout the resort (wherever possible) to fluorescent lights. The resort encourages boaters to use their holding tank and not discharge in their waters, and offers free garbage pickup and recycling of all beer bottles.

Peace and Plenty Resorts in Exuma, Bahamas, also has an extensive eco-tourism mission in The Bahamas. They've implemented everything from a towel and linen reuse program, ecologically sound cleaning and laundry products, a waste water system, solar water heaters, and a rain water catchments system, to waterless urinals in the men's public bathroom, recycling and use of recycled paper products, photo-voltaic electricity to run the pump for the bathrooms and even an employee 'eco' training program. They also educate their guests by providing information about walking tours of George Town and by hosting two cocktail parties a week were local residents have the chance to make presentations to their guests about Exuma. They also ask guests to buy carbon credits on their website to offset the carbon produced by traveling to Exuma and as well as having a guest rebate program for any guest contributing to the Exuma Foundation, the local 501(c)3 charity that is dedicated to helping Exumian people have a better life.

Another resort in the Exumas, Hotel Higgins Landings, also provides an eco-friendly lifestyle for vacationers by offering a smoke-free facility, a water reuse system and runs on 100% use of photo-voltaic solar electricity.

Along with the eco-tours Fernandez Bay Village is currently offering, they have upcoming improvements planned for their reopening in the fall to appeal to travelers living an eco-friendly lifestyle. They have plans in place to become a more energy efficient resort by replacing all of their shower heads with reduced flow fixtures, replacing light bulbs with energy efficient compact florescent bulbs and replacing their hot water system with a solar hot water system. Additionally, they are planning on taking their water pumps and a portion of their property off the Bahamas Electricity Corporation grid and power it with a solar powered system.

About The Out Islands of The Bahamas
The Out Islands of the Bahamas include the Abacos, Acklins, Andros, Bimini, Cat Island, Eleuthera/Harbour Island, The Exumas, and Long Island. The Out Islands offer an eco-friendly hotel guide to vacationers living an eco-friendly lifestyle. To learn more about hotels that support eco-tourism in The Out Islands of The Bahamas, please visit www.MyOutIslands.com or call 1-800-OUT-ISLANDS today.

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Jay Berkowitz
www.TenGoldenRules.com
561-620-9121