TOURISM IS THREATENING PROVO, SAYS 500 EXPERTS

More than 500 tourism specialists, travel writers, eco scientists, lecturers and architects have agreed that the island is in serious trouble.  Traveller and the National Geographic Centre for Sustainable Destinations conducted its fourth annual Destination Scorecard survey, aided by George Washington University, to see how the integrity of world’s islands is holding up. Providenciales was given a score of just 44 out of 100 and rated as being in “serious
trouble.”

One expert described the situation as: “Rampant development at a grand scale and little attention to ecosystems.  “Nature is seen as a white sand beach, not a healthy ecosystem.”  Another expert said that Providenciales was: “once a raw, romantic coastline, now a strip of mega-hotels on an increasingly crowded beach.”  He added: “Thankfully, surrounding islands are seeing Providenciales as a cautionary tale.”

The survey examined the world’s most appealing destinations – islands - which are the ones most prone to tourism overkill.  The 522 experts voted on which of the 111 selected islands avoid the danger, which are succumbing to it, and which hang in the balance – and Providenciales failed to make the grade.

A spokesperson for Traveller said: “Tourism is a phenomenon that can cook your food or burn your house down. “In other words, we all risk destroying the very places that we love the most.  “Nowhere more so than on islands - islands symbolise vacation. Escape!

“Their very insularity makes them more attractive than a comparable piece of real estate on the mainland.  “They are worlds unto themselves—their own traditions, ecosystems, cultures,  landscapes. That's what attracts us.  “But as micro-worlds, islands are also more vulnerable to population pressure, climate
change, storm damage, invasive species, and now, tourism overkill.”

The results show that beach-blessed islands draw sun-and-sand resort tourism development that can get out of hand quickly.  One passionate expert said: “Fifteen years ago there were only 1,000 people on Provo;  today the unofficial number is more than 30,000.  “Many are ex-pats and undocumented aliens drawn by the building boom taking place on Provo, primarily along Grace Bay, one of the loveliest beaches anywhere.

“Development is proceeding at light speed.  What was once a three-story building limit quietly became a five-story limit.  Two projects nearing completion rise seven stories.  Some native islanders fear that development is at the expense of the islands' identity and culture.  Also at risk is the endangered Turks and Caicos rock iguana, surviving in the wild only where it is not threatened by introduced species like dogs, cats, and rats.  The silver thatch palm exists only here and  the Bahamas, but the six-foot trees are the first things to go when bulldozers move in.”