In celebration of Earth Day 2025, the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association (SLHTA) and the SUNx Institute have officially signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to accelerate the transition to a climate-resilient, low-carbon tourism industry in Saint Lucia.
The agreement signals a shared commitment to protecting the planet and empowering communities through climate-smart tourism initiatives. The partnership will support SLHTA member companies in aligning their operations with the principles of Climate Friendly Travel (CFT)—travel that is measured, green, 2050-ready, and climate-resilient, as defined by the SUNx Institute / SUNx Malta.
SUNx, a global leader in CFT development, offers research, education and operational support to help destinations, businesses and travellers act to meet the goals of the United Nations 2030/2050 Green and Clean Roadmap. Participants will be included in the CFT Registry, connecting Saint Lucia to an expanding global ecosystem of responsible travel businesses and environmentally conscious consumers.
Chief Executive Officer of the SLHTA, Mr. Noorani M. Azeez, emphasised, “This Earth Day reminds us that the time to act boldly for our environment is now. Through this partnership with the SUNx Institute, we reaffirm our dedication to placing regenerative tourism at the heart of our development strategy. The SLHTA believes in a tourism model that not only sustains but also revitalises our communities and ecosystems. We invite all our members to take advantage of this initiative and be leaders in the Caribbean’s climate response.”
SUNx President, Professor Geoffrey Lipman, remarked, “This MOU embodies the spirit of Earth Day 2025 and all the Earth Days since our inspiration, the late Maurice Strong, helped create the UN climate, sustainability and nature-positive frameworks. Together with the SLHTA, we aim to deliver transformation where tourism operators embed climate action at the core of their business practices.”
As the world unites under the Earth Day 2025 theme, “Our Power, Our Planet”, this collaboration also prioritises plastic reduction, waste minimisation, and sustainable supply chains as essential components of tourism innovation.