Lighthouse Point Sustainable Development Plan

JLP+D was retained by a philanthropic client to provide strategic advisory services to a locally-based consortium seeking to preserve the land in the face of cruise port development on the island of Eleuthera. JLP+D guided the development of a Sustainable Development Plan that focused on local ownership of the site, stay-over ecotourism, and equitable economic development. The majority of the site would be preserved in perpetuity as a National Park. The plan outlined a carefully curated program of revenue-generating uses, a workforce training center, scientific research opportunities and educational programs, with a focus on equity.

JLP+D, in collaboration with CREST (Center for Responsible Travel) and the Stanford Woods Institute Natural Capital Project, examined the economics of sustainable development and a comparison of cruise tourism versus stay-over tourism. JLP+D calculated the economic impact of the proposed Sustainable Development Plan (stay-over tourism) would provide 26x the benefit to the Eleutheran economy than what cruise tourism could provide. In addition, JLP+D’s economic analysis found the eco-tourism model would provide over 350 permanent and construction jobs, at wages nearly 150% higher than the proposed cruise port terminal plan. The economic impact analysis found the economic impact of the plan would be over $13 million in economic output annually and over $11.5 million in annual GDP increase. JLP+D advised the consortium on public and government relations, facilitated cross-team strategy sessions, and produced the Sustainable Development Plan and related engagement materials for the consortium.