Responsible Destination Development: Multi: Design for People and Estate Concordia
Estate Concordia has previously built cabins made of tent material in order to guarantee the resort's trademark ambience of harmony with nature. Interior dimensions have been modified for ease of wheelchair access. Bathrooms, using composting toilets and eco-friendly water systems, have also been upgraded. Wooden walkways link the scattered cabins.
The resort includes plans for an art studio and performance space that will serve as a cultural resource for fulltime residents of the island as well as guests. Transportation by land and sea is being studied for modification to include those with disabilities.
Now, after moving the project forward for several more months, the Estate Concordia team has issued an invitation to visit the site and hear from local officials who will explain how the project foreshadows St. John's desire to become a destination of choice for travelers and to hear from travelers with disabilities who will critique their experience at Estate Concordia. The event, "Building A Destination For All 2005, St. John" will take place on July 29 at Maho Bay Camps in the Dining Pavilion.
Reading through the day's agenda, it certainly appears that Inclusive Destination Development is living up to its track record. As I observed at Eden Social Welfare Foundation's "2005 International Conference on Accessible Tourism" good design tends to spread swiftly on island destinations once a well-executed good design project gets underway through the leadership of a single tourist destination developer. One cannot help but be impressed--and sense a hearty welcome for travelers with disabilities -- by reading through the speaker list for "Building A Destination For All 2005, St. John." Here is just a partial list:
- The Honorable Charles W. Turnbull, Governor USVI
- Lorraine L. Berry, Senate President USVI
- Julien A. Harley, St. John Administrator Congresswoman
- Donna M. Christensen, U.S. House of Representatives
- Eric Lipp, Executive Director, Open Doors Organization, Chicago, IL
- Meredith Bass, Recreation Expert for Persons with Disabilities,Shake-A-Leg, Miami, FL
- Art Frederick, Superintendent, Virgin Islands National Park
- Joe Aubain, Executive Director, Chamber of Commerce, St John/St Thomas
- Pamela C. Richards, Commissioner, USVI Department of Tourism, St John/St Thomas/St Croix
- Beverly Nicholson, Executive Director, USVI Hotel & Tourism Association
Estate Concordia is one of several projects worldwide that is responding to the presence of increasing numbers of people with disabilities, and seniors with decreased stamina, who wish to travel. None, to my knowledge have been so forward thinking
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