Protecting Paradise: Implementing a Purpose-Driven Sustainable Tourism Model to Conserve Coral Reefs in Providencia and Santa Catalina

This project aims to implement a comprehensive sustainable tourism model in Providencia, with the primary goal of mitigating environmental impacts on critical coral reef ecosystems. These reefs have been severely affected by unsustainable tourism practices that lack explicit conservation objectives. The model is designed to ensure tourism contributes positively to the preservation of the island’s natural heritage, transforming visitors into active allies in the protection of coral reefs and their associated biodiversity. Through awareness-raising and ecotourism-focused training, tourists engage in practical conservation activities such as solid waste collection, removal of ghost fishing gear, and the management of invasive macroalgae during snorkeling excursions, fostering both an enriching experience and meaningful environmental participation.