Existing Tourism Infrastructure

Envisioning Ecotourism

To illustrate the possibilities of ecotourism in St. Croix, this project features experiential tour routes, each highlighting historical and cultural sites, natural preserves, festivals, and special events that can draw visitors to the island. These Eco-tours highlight the potential for interactive elements like smartphone applications and story maps that can bring visitors closer to the island’s people and culture. When choosing sites and locations of interest for these tours, we had very specific goals:

• Connecting assets around the entire island, not concentrating solely around the cities

• Locating ecological interests with the potential for greater engagement

• Engaging tourists in the landscape while preserving it

• Giving islanders autonomy over the narrative and image taught to tourists

• Creating employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for islanders