Tourism is the lifeblood of The Bahamas — but with 11 million annual visitors and a population of just 400,000, growth comes with high stakes for the environment.

In this episode of GreenShift, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Chester Cooper joins host Darin Graham to discuss how the Bahamas is managing record tourism while protecting its coral reefs, mangroves, and pristine beaches. From regulating resort development and promoting renewable energy to enforcing environmental codes and encouraging community-led tourism, Cooper outlines how the island nation plans to stay both prosperous and sustainable.

But with most travelers still arriving by cruise or air — two of tourism’s most carbon-intensive sectors — can The Bahamas remain a model for climate-conscious development?

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Note: Skift’s in-depth reporting on climate issues is made possible through the financial support of Intrepid Travel. This backing allows Skift to bring you high-quality journalism on one of the most important topics facing our planet today. Intrepid is not involved in any decisions made by Skift’s editorial team.

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