Tourists seen near the beach, in Los Roques National Park, Venezuela, on November 1, 2024. Reuters File Photo
Venezuela's efforts to boost its struggling economy by attracting tourists and building infrastructure, including runways and hotels, are causing environmental harm to sensitive areas, particularly fragile Caribbean coral reefs already under threat from climate change, according to conservationists, scientists, government sources, and locals. President Nicolas Maduro's government, which blames US sanctions for the country's economic woes, has touted tourism as the economy's "secret weapon." However, despite meetings with French businesspeople and recent appeals to investors by Maduro, the push has yet to attract foreign investment. Critics, including biologists, activists, and locals, are raising concerns, with one conservation group alleging that at least one major infrastructure project is illegal. The expansion of the runway at the main airport serving Los Roques National Park, an archipelago recognized by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, has already destroyed coral, mangroves, and a nesting beach for the critically endangered Eretmochelys imbricata turtle, according to the Venezuelan Ecological Society.
Maduro has also promoted a project to build 10 hotels on La Tortuga Island, which remains largely untouched. He claims the plans are environmentally respectful and has highlighted interest from investors worldwide. The government has signed tourism deals with Nicaragua, Cuba, and Syria, and reported a 69% increase in tourism through November, with 1.8 million international visitors. However, the plans for La Tortuga, including an airport and port, have raised concerns among environmental advocates. Environmental permits are not publicly available, and government sources say impact studies were not conducted for the runway extension in Los Roques. Conservationists and locals warn that the national park is facing increasing threats from illegal activities and lack of enforcement.
The expansion of tourism and infrastructure is also exacerbating waste and sewage issues in Los Roques. Residents fear that increased tourism will worsen these problems, while La Tortuga lacks the capacity to handle waste. The United Nations and coastal countries have warned that coral reefs are being devastated by warming oceans, with Los Roques and La Tortuga's reefs serving as important incubators for coral and fish species. Conservationists and locals are concerned that the lack of enforcement and increasing tourism are threatening the delicate ecosystems of these islands.
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