MAR News

L-R: Ms. Delonie Forman (TIDE Tours Manager), Mr. Martin Ack (TIDE Tours Guide), Ms. Caroline Oliver (Sales & Marketing Manager).

TIDE Tours a tour  operator  in Punta  Gorda, Belize, has been recently recognized for its continued commitment to reducing impacts of climate change through tourism activities. The organization was awarded a Caribbean Climate Smart Award at the 2017 Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Awards Program in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The awards ceremony is hosted annually by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), and aims to identify and showcase Sustainable Tourism Good Practices in the Caribbean. TIDE Tours was shortlisted for the Community Benefit Award and Biodiversity Conservation Award from a total of 96 entrants, and was finally awarded the Climate Smart Award 2017, which was presented by Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

This award highlights in particular, the organization’s Ridge to Reef Expeditions (R2R) program. Participants of the R2R program contribute to climate change resilience strategies, including local reforestation projects, coral reef monitoring, raising local awareness of climate change, and habitat restoration programs.

TIDE Tours is a leading tour operator in Southern Belize, and has been providing day tours, vacation packages and educational tours throughout Belize since 1999. In addition to the benefits that the R2R program generates, TIDE Tours strives to have a positive impact on the local environment and communities through all its tourism operations. This includes direct and indirect employment, training opportunities for community members, and donating all of its tour profits to the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE).

TIDE is a non-profit organization which manages 160,000 acres of land and sea-scape in Southern Belize, promoting sustainable resource use and implementing community development programs. TIDE has received multiple international awards that recognize its pioneering, innovative conservation programs that engage community members in natural resource management.

Ms. Delonie Forman, TIDE Tours Manager, stated “It is truly an honor to be recognized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Caribbean Development Bank for this award. We are excited about the year ahead, and to continue developing our Ridge to Reef program with more participants and greater benefits to the local community and environment.”

Eddie Herrera, Ministry of Tourism, Belize accepting the Award on TIDE Tours behalf in St. Kitts December 13, 2017. L-R: Hugh Riley (CTO CEO & Secretary General), Mr. Eddie Herrera Martin Ack (Tourism Office, Ministry of Tourism, Belize), Dr. Yves Robert Personna, (Project Manager, Caribbean Development Bank).