Saturday, June 8, 2024 On May 29, 2024, at the SIDS4 Conference in Antigua and Barbuda, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, actively participated in a tourism event centered on Regenerative Tourism for Resilience. Following the opening remarks by the Antiguan and Barbudan Minister, Minister Radegonde emphasized the specific challenges that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face and voiced his optimism that regenerative tourism could provide a sustainable solution. He discussed Seychelles’ sustainable tourism initiatives, which adhere to regenerative principles involving ecosystem restoration, resilience enhancement through risk adaptation, and active community and tourist engagement.
The panel discussion, titled “Regenerative Tourism for Resilience: Policy, Practice and Finance,” featured Minister Radegonde who reviewed advancements since the 2020 release of “Preparing for Climate Change in the Tourism Sector – A Guide for Hotels and Guesthouses.” He noted that 60% of lodging facilities are utilizing the guide to integrate climate actions into their operations, and 40% are collaborating with environmental NGOs on local climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. He further highlighted the guide’s adoption by establishments either certified by Sustainable Seychelles or seeking such certification, which is acknowledged by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
The certification encompasses five key areas related to climate.