SEVENSEAS Marine Conservation & Travel February 2016 Issue 9 | Page 32

Maarten Nature Foundation works to raise awareness and provide solutions. Several local groups do their part in trash clean-up, from the St. Martin Trails group to the Pride Foundation to American University of the Caribbean. Tourists, too, have the power to be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Tadzio suggests that tourists simply make use of trash cans. At some beaches, there are even recycle bins. Using these properly can have a great positive impact on the environment. Travelers also have significant power over the tourism industry. “Since we are a tourism oriented island, any pressure from visitors, being it on hotels or even on decision makers here, from those which we depend on for our livelihood, would go a long way in changing our mentality.” Yokoyama also has advice for ecologically responsible tourism:

“Tourists should try to make good choices, like they do when they are at home.

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