Destinations and individual facilities must therefore seek to provide a product which will satisfy the requirements of a suitably large number of customers, or they will face financial ruin. 2.2 Environmental Concerns There has been a growing trend of environmental consciousness among tourists, particularly those from Europe. The Ecotourist is one who has a keen interest in nature, and seeks a vacation which will maximize the naturalist experience. Green Tourists , in contrast, may not have as strong an interest in nature as Ecotourists. In the absence of ratings within the region, it appears that many potential tourists rely on environmental groups in their own countries to determine which facilities are green , and which are not.
Operational practices cover a wide range of environmental concerns.
External lighting of the facility and the nature and timing of sound emissions can affect neighbouring residents or wildlife in adjacent areas. The frequency of washing linen affects the water demand at the facility, as well as the volume of waste water that is generated. Similarly, the nature of detergents used will influence the type of impact which is experienced in receiving water bodies. In like manner, composting of part of the solid waste would reduce the load being placed on landfills. In all cases, the diversity of the Caribbean region makes it very difficult to define a universally-applicable best approach .