By creating a "Green Certificate," the government of Puerto Rico seeks to make public the efforts of several hotels and resorts on the island to reduce their impact on the environment and promote ecotourism, according to the Compañía de Turismo de Puerto Rico, CTPR.
The initial goal of the project is to ensure that 10% of the lodgings with eco-friendly initiatives are linked to the program and certify their sustainable activities, so that their clients know the initiative and value it when making reservations.
The executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Mario González Lafuente, explained that the certification process begins with the delivery of operational guides that explain what the evaluation criteria are; once the process has been standardized, applications for registration from interested establishments will be received.
"We are excited about the realization of the Green Certifications program, as they promote the implementation of assertive sustainable tourism practices with our hotels, inns and tour operators, giving opportunities to attract new visitors to the destination actively contributing to position Puerto Rico as a leading destination in the Caribbean regarding sustainable tourism," said González.
During the first years of the project, it is sought that all the projects endorsed by the managing entity comply with all the requirements to obtain the seal and, subsequently, it will be sought that more hotels adopt sustainable practices to consolidate an efficient hotel industry and less impact on the ecosystem.
