A comfortable truth

I figured that a resort displaying such a strict eco-cred would be attracting a seriously crunchy clientele.

“Oh, heavens no,” said Brian Appleby, sitting on the beach in the shade cast by a stand of casuarinas. “I don’t pay any attention to eco-this or eco-that, and as far as what I eat … the more endangered the better.” I’d met Brian and his wife, Lynda, at the long, family-style dinner table and knew he was a big kidder, but I did believe that the fleshy former English magistrate would have no trouble at all stomaching Black Rhino steak and Giant Panda pate as long as they were prepared just right. After traveling all over the world, including many safaris in Africa, the Applebys had returned to Tiamo for the fifth straight year. As on previous trips, they were staying for three weeks. “It’s just what we’d always been looking for,” said Brian. “We can relax and read; it’s so quiet and peaceful. And the people, the staff here, are lovely, just lovely.” My questions about the importance of the resort’s sustainability and environmental awareness were met with dismissive waves. “Lynda enjoys the activities,” said Brian, “but I’m here … Do you speak Italian? I’m here bel far niente, ‘for the pleasure of doing nothing.” And this is the perfect place to do it.”

Mike is not surprised when I tell him that out of a full house of 22 guests, I haven’t found a single one who says they’re here because of Tiamo’s eco-reputation. “We don’t market that way, even though we’re as eco as possible,” he says. He feels that it makes the low-impact way they operate even more valuable. “We’re not preaching to the choir,” he says. “People come here simply looking for a natural destination. Once they take our behind-the-scenes tour, though, we really see an impact.”

“Many of them leave thinking differently,” says Petagay. “They may not go home and trade in their Escalade for a Prius, but we get a lot of letters telling us how they now take their recycling and water and energy conservation more seriously.”

Tiamo’s achievements at the leading edge of sustainable tourism may soon spread beyond this one Out Island, as plans are underway to use the award-winning Tiamo model, along with everything Mike and Petagay have learned along the way, to create several more something-or-other-but-not-eco resorts in other special places.

“The truth is,” Mike says, “that running a resort like this instead of the business-as-usual, crush-and-conquer method is the way to make it both profitable and to ensure that you preserve what people are traveling for in the first place.”

Caribbean Travel & Life is the magazine for anyone in search of the perfect tropical getaway. Each issue presents expert insider’s advice on where to find the Caribbean’s best beaches and attractions, its finest resorts and spas, liveliest beach bars and activities, and its friendliest people.

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