The Jungle Bay Resort Story - Sustainable Tourism, Ecotourism in the Caribbean

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THE JUNGLE BAY STORY

Jungle Bay Resort & Spa's Philosophy

Jungle Bay Resort and Spa was built and is operated in alignment with international Geotourism and Ecotourism guidelines. As an alternative to traditional Caribbean tourism, the focus is on enjoyable nature-based activities and wellness of guests with quality service, guided by the principles as set by both National Geographic's Center for Sustainable Destinations and The International Ecotourism Society (TIES):

Geotourism is defined as "tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place -- its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents."

Ecotourism is defined as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." (TIES 2003)

The Mission of Jungle Bay Resort is to enhance the natural environment and improve the livelihood of surrounding communities so that the region is improved in a sustainable way, while providing quality, comfortable nature-based experiences for our guests.

How Jungle Bay Makes a Difference to Community:

Jungle Bay was a founding partner of "Open Books, Open Minds -- Leave a Book Behind". A literacy project to help bring books to the primary school students in the southeast of Dominica.

In the past 2 years Jungle Bay family (owners, staff & guests) have generously contributed over $150,000 ec dollars as a seed grant to begin the development of a community operated facility for indigent children with severe disabilities from Dominica's southeast. We recently broke ground and are completing the foundation of the new House of Hope.

Jungle Bay recognizes that air travel to Dominica puts a stress on the environment. The resort and the community is committed to preservation of 55 acres at Jungle Bay + hundreds of surrounding acres of jungle which border the resort including Morne Trois Pitons National Park - UNESCO World Heritage Site. This community effort to continue preservation of the rainforest does not require tree-planing so in lieu of an official carbon offsetting program, Jungle Bay and the community encourage guests to consider supporting the Jungle Bay Community Fund in any way that they can.

Jungle Bay provided financial benefits and helped the people of Dominica's southeast develop a range of transferable construction skills in a timely manner when local residents were forced to transition after the decline of the banana trade.
Jungle Bay employs 59 full-time employees, which is important as it encourages capacity building and economic growth of the immediate surrounding communities.
Owners Sam & Glenda helped found an NGO - the South East Tourism Development Committee (SETDC) whose mission is to help develop local capacity for economic opportunities Jungle Bay brings to the area as well as to help ensure environmental protection of the area; through the development of trails, tour guide training, working with schools and young people with respect to conservation issues and working in partnership for the development of the turtle conservation and turtle watching as a tourism attraction.
In January 2006, Jungle Bay Resort and Spa launched the Southeast Entrepreneur Loan Fund (SELF), which allows 10-15 local entrepreneurs to borrow up to $12,000 EC for business activities such as organic produce, seafood, local arts/ crafts production and guiding of cultural tours and hikes that can contribute to the Jungle Bay services.
Jungle Bay has established an on-site education program for staff to encourage a healthy growth academically in tourism.
Since August 2005, Jungle Bay has committed to financing high school tuition fees for all students (200+) in the Carib Territory, the Caribbean's last remaining indigenous Amerindian peoples.

With the generous help of guests Sue McMillan & John McDonald Jungle Bay has started a scholarship fund to assist students in financing their secondary education in Dominica. Read more at the end of the newsletter at this link.

Jungle Bay has been invited to join www.TravelersPhilanthropy.org with a small group of hand-picked tourism providers who are committed to helping improve communities through tourism activities. US residents interested in donating to these important community causes through Jungle Bay can request a tax deductible receipt which will be arranged through www.TravelersPhilanthropy.org . Please contact us for details.

Shortlisted in the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award 2008 for Poverty Reduction

Winner of the Islands Magazine Blue List 2009 and named #1 of the top 6 Green Resorts in the World! click here to read more

Winner of Conde Nast Travel Magazine World Saver Awards 2007 for poverty alleviation: click here to read more

Finalist in the Travel + Leisure Magazine Global Vision Awards 2007: click here to read more

Winner of 2007 Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association Award for: 'Contribution to Dominica's Ecotourism Product and Community Development'

How Jungle Bay Contributes to Protecting the Environment:

This local style resort was creatively deigned utilizing used wood and discarded stone from an old mining quarry.
The thirty-five cottages are elevated on wooden posts beneath the canopy of Gomier and Cedar trees to reduce & minimize disturbance on the soils.
All cottage furnishings, including Pacific inspired platform beds and Morris chairs were built by the local crew with local materials.
A well thought out process during planning eliminated the need for air conditioning, thus, natural ventilation flows and lighting in cottages, reduce high energy consumption.
Jungle Bay purchases locally made goods and utilizes services from our local populace; boosting the local economy. When possible, excess packaging is avoided to reduce the enormous amounts of waste that occurs at many traditional tourism operations.
Our restaurant serves 95% locally grown organic food to reduce packaged and imported food from afar AND to provide healthy tasty meals that do not use pesticides and other chemicals. By serving local cuisine, travelers may try new meals and local people retain traditional recipes and are proud of their culture.
Food waste is used for composting.
Hot water heaters are on-demand gas heaters to significantly reduce energy consumption.
A comprehensive alternative energy project is presently in place. Wind activity is being tested in the area with plans of installation of modern windmills to supply all of electricity needs. (Dominica's public utility's current supply of energy is 30-50% hydro electric.
Our water comes from a spring fed stream that flows through the property. This water is stored in catchments and distributed throughout the property by gravity.
The resort strives to manage waste, energy use, and other techniques ensuring limited disturbance of the ecosystem - reducing environmental and social impacts in all areas of the operation - through continuous monitoring and evaluation.
Local guides trained in responsible travel techniques take guests on guided educational tours through fragile ecosystems.
Guests on the Jungle Spa Adventure package receive a re-usable water bottle upon arrival to be filled at our water stations throughout the property--decreasing our use of plastic disposable bottles.
All glass bottles are recycled locally.
Each year we work with school children from villages near Jungle Bay to facilitate a beach clean-up to clean up the environment, reduce the chance of sea turtles being poisoned or strangled by trash and to educate communities about sea turtle conservation.

Travel + Leisure Magazine chose Jungle Bay among their favorite 20 Green Hotels click here to read more

Among the Top 10 Eco-Resorts by Forbes Traveler click here to read more

How Jungle Bay Makes a Difference to the Guests:

The resort is designed to host wellness retreats and cater to individual guests who are interested in a healthy, stress-reduced lifestyle. Some of the programs encourage the promotion of traditional healing, healthy eating, spiritual practices, yoga, and relaxation techniques.
Jungle Bay is in the process of establishing a number of programs such as an on-site heritage museum and entertaining activities with environmental themes. Jungle Bay offers visitors an opportunity to spend an enjoyable holiday while they contribute to the social development of their host community.
The resort serves delicious organic local cuisine and fresh Dominica coffee which is roast on property and supports a local farming co-operative.