UN Tourism and The Bahamas have launched a groundbreaking initiative highlighting Caribbean innovators advancing resilient tourism solutions. The Bahamas Sustainable Islands Challenge recognized entrepreneurs in sustainability, marine conservation, green technology, and community tourism while reinforcing regional collaboration and the Caribbean’s growing leadership in tourism resilience and innovation.
NASSAU, Bahamas — UN Tourism, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation of The Bahamas, has highlighted a new generation of innovators advancing resilient tourism solutions across the Caribbean through the launch of the Bahamas Sustainable Islands Challenge.
The initiative recognizes the region’s emerging start-up ecosystem while emphasizing the need for deeper Caribbean collaboration, increased investment, and stronger public-private partnerships to secure the future of sustainable tourism in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The challenge comes at a significant moment for Caribbean tourism resilience efforts. The global observance of the Tourism Resilience Day — now recognized internationally by the United Nations — originated in the Caribbean and was spearheaded regionally by Jamaica through its leadership in advocating for global tourism resilience and crisis preparedness. The initiative has since evolved into an important international platform promoting sustainable recovery, innovation, and resilience in tourism-dependent economies, the Caribbean has been building on.
UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona said tourism accounts for approximately 15 percent of GDP in The Bahamas, making the sector both an economic engine and an area vulnerable to climate-related and external shocks.
“We are identifying solutions and building a pipeline of entrepreneurs able to address critical challenges in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean, while helping to catalyze a fast-emerging regional start-up ecosystem driven by stronger cross-Caribbean collaboration,” Bayona said.
The Bahamas Sustainable Islands Challenge focused on innovative solutions in ocean conservation, community-based tourism, and green technology.
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Awardees Recognized
Among the standout innovators were recognized:
- Runner-up – Category 1: Ocean and Marine Conservation — Island Bey Coastal Stewards
- Runner-up – Category 3: Green Tech for Sustainable Tourism — Coco Bliss Bahamas
- Winner – Category 1: Ocean and Marine Conservation — Bluequest Bahamas
- Winner – Category 2: Local and Community-based Tourism — Access Island Guide
- Winner – Category 3: Green Tech for Sustainable Tourism — Out Island Water Company Recycling Program
- Overall Winner – UN Tourism Bahamas Sustainable Islands Innovation Challenge — Out Island Water Company Recycling Program
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation I. Chester Cooper described the initiative as a demonstration of how small island destinations can lead the global transformation of tourism through innovation.
“The Bahamas Sustainable Island Challenge demonstrates how small island destinations can lead global tourism transformation through innovation. By empowering local entrepreneurs to develop solutions in sustainability, community-based tourism, and green technology, The Bahamas is intentionally building an innovation ecosystem that strengthens resilience, attracts investment, and converts our vulnerabilities into long-term competitive advantage,” Cooper said.
Director General of Tourism Latia Duncombe emphasizes that the challenge shines a global spotlight on Bahamian-led innovation.
“This Challenge brings global attention to solutions being shaped by Bahamian hands, Bahamian insight and Bahamian experience. Through our partnership with UN Tourism, we are translating those solutions into market-ready opportunities, ensuring that sustainable tourism in The Bahamas is not only discussed at the policy level, but advanced through practical innovation and measurable impact,” Duncombe said.
Supporting Caribbean Innovators
The six finalists received mentorship support from the Caribbean Climate Innovation Center, United Nations Development Program, Tech Beach Retreat, UnTours, and the Tourism Development Corporation of The Bahamas.
All finalists were awarded seed capital by the Tourism Development Corporation of The Bahamas and will join the UN Tourism Global Innovation Network while receiving scholarships to the UN Tourism Online Academy. The overall winner will also benefit from additional acceleration programs.
As the first initiative of its kind in the Caribbean, the challenge lays the groundwork for future regional collaboration and the strengthening of an innovation ecosystem designed specifically for Small Island Developing States.
The Challenge also received support from key regional and international partners, including the Inter-American Development Bank and Katapult Ventures.
