This sentiment was echoed loudly by executives of the European Investment Bank, the Micronesian Development Bank and the Caribbean Hotels Association during the three-day conference organized by Pro-invest in Fiji last week.

The executives pointed out that tourists visit remote and beautiful islands of the Pacific and the Caribbean because of their friendly and relatively undisturbed environment which give them upper hand in natural attractions, which include white sandy beaches, lush forest, clear and clean oceans with living marine lives, clean water falls, unpolluted air and favorable warm climates.

Ignorance of environment concerns for the love of money can cause irreparable damages money can't buy, the executives agreed.

They warned Pacific islanders that any hotel or resort developments should take careful consideration of the fragile environments the islands have.  They also said that the environment these islands have is attracting tourists to their shores and it must be preserved at all cost.

The executive of the Caribbean Hotel Association, Alec Sanguetti, added that the sustainability of tourism in island countries rely heavily on the local environment
and the links hotels and resorts have with their local community.

"Involve local people such as farmers, fishermen and local expertise and your development will never fail. In this way you create employment and market for local
people and the trust you need now exist. You will depend on them for your survival and vice versa,” said Sanguetti

He was comparing the environments and the tourism industry of the Caribbean and the Pacific which are depending heavily on the beauty of their environments.

Mr. Sanguetti said the environments of small countries can be easily destroyed if the number of tourists cannot be controlled and this is an area where all hotel and resort owners should carefully consider.

He said the disturbance of environment can cause multiple impacts on both the land and sea resources which many of the Pacific island countries are banking on as attractions to their establishments.

Mr. Sanguetti said Fiji islands have the perfect environment to attract tourists as yet and is hopeful the environment is preserved that way for the benefit of the tourism industry and the local economy for many years to come.