Saturday, 31 March 2012

Eco-tourism in St Kitts

St Kitts is still a relative newcomer to the tourism industry, as it only took positive steps to promote itself as an upmarket destination once the sugarcane industry finally shut its doors for good in 2005.

This means it's perfectly positioned to be able to ensure the tourism industry develops in a way which is sustainable, and St Kitts has taken measures to make sure its delicate ecosystem is protected. This is extremely sensible as ecotourism is becoming increasingly popular, as people still want to travel and explore, but are more interested in pursuing activities perceived as being ‘green.’

The underwater world around St Kitts is a huge attraction, and it has a worldwide reputation for being pristine. St Kitts is working hard to make sure the coral reefs and marine life are preserved for generations to come and has worked with Philippe Cousteau's Earth Echo, and the Coral Reef Alliance to create protected areas. St Kitts is equally as well known for its lush environment.

Around one quarter of the island is covered in American Oceanic Rainforest, which is one of the rarest kinds of rainforest in the world. The environment on St Kitts is so healthy this rainforest is expanding, and with numerous trails winding through it, it provides a popular tourist attraction. These trails are enjoyed by hikers and mountain bikers and vary greatly as to the degree of difficulty.

The trails take sightseers past streams and waterfalls, and an endless variety of tropical plants and flowers. You don't have to be ultra-fit to experience this, as there are plenty of tour operators offering leisurely walks with a guide, or four-wheel-drive tours. All these natural attractions help make St Kitts quite different from its competitors, and it's easy to see why it's becoming increasingly popular amongst tourists.

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