The Maldives is a group of 26 coral atolls within the Indian Ocean that’s globally famend for luxurious island resorts, over water bungalows, pristine white sand seashores and extraordinary marine life. Every atoll is exclusive, made by the sluggish erosion of volcanic islands which depart a hoop of coral islands surrounded by the clear blue waters which are synonymous with this luxurious vacation vacation spot. With greater than 250 species of onerous coral and 1100 species of fish calling the Maldives house, we should be collectively accountable for their survival. Tourism continues to be rising within the Maldives and with new resorts opening every yr, it’s now extra essential than ever to advertise and help sustainable tourism initiatives.
It’s our accountability as world travellers to make sustainable selections wherever doable. In fact, our actions in flying all over the world have enormous influence, but when we want to journey that’s form of unimaginable to keep away from and definitely impractical to achieve each nook of this enchanting planet. What we will do nevertheless, is to hunt out resorts and resorts in our chosen vacation spot which are making efforts to develop sustainable practices, and work in the direction of decreasing the influence that journey and tourism creates. Anybody who has been lucky sufficient to go to the Maldives, will recognize simply how distinctive the setting is, with coral atolls, pristine reefs and ample marine life highlighting the pure magnificence. It’s inside fragile eco programs like these the place the necessity for sustainable practices is paramount, and the place efforts to be extra sustainable can have probably the most influence. With tourism persevering with to develop exponentially within the Maldives, there has by no means been a extra essential time for the tourism business to ‘do the fitting factor’ and for vacationers and travellers to help these resort that accomplish that.
Six Senses Kanuhura
It was no shock that the most recent Six Senses resort within the Maldives had sustainable tourism as one in every of their core values. The merely beautiful Six Senses Kanuhura has embraced the idea and have a number of initiatives which are obvious once you discover the pristine island. From fruits, greens and mushrooms which are grown on the island to shifting in the direction of menus that will likely be 40% plant primarily based, and from interplay with group and conservation efforts to declaring that Maldivian seagrass meadows needs to be protected, each effort is made to make sure that the sustainability targets of Six Senses are achieved and exceeded. While some resorts select to take away the seagrass and the ecosystem providers they supply in an effort to create ‘crystal clear lagoons’, the groups at Six Senses Kanuhura and Six Senses Laamu (each within the Maldives) have actively promoted their environmental significance within the area to different resorts. This marketing campaign has been endorsed and supported by the Maldives Ministry of Tourism which can additional promote the constructive influence from defending these endangered sea grass meadows.
When asking Jeff Smith (Vice President of Sustainability at Six Senses) how they make sustainable and accountable tourism ‘enjoyable’ for his or her company he spoke passionately about Earth Lab. At every Six Senses resort, that is the place company are invited to hitch interactive workshops which are each instructional and enjoyable. Whether or not that’s studying find out how to make your personal pure toothpaste, zero waste candles and regionally sourced coconut oil or studying about coral restoration, recycling and composting, there are courses and actions for all that can most actually make you concentrate on find out how to cut back our influence on the planet. Trying ahead, he talked about group extensive initiatives together with a ‘bioblitz’ the place citizen science will likely be used to doc biodiversity, and a seed saving program that can present a lot wanted seeds to the native farmers and communities.
JA Manafaru
As the primary resort within the Maldives from the Dubai primarily based JA Motels & Resorts, it was nice to see that they’ve embraced sustainable tourism practices on the idyllic JA Manafaru which is positioned within the pristine Haa Alif Atoll. Basic Supervisor, Jason Kruse talked about how “sustainability is essential to JA Manafaru” and this was clear to see throughout our time on the island. The island gardens produce fruits, greens and mushrooms, while as many merchandise as doable are produced on the island. Each of those initiatives cut back pointless packaging and the damaging influence of meals miles. Along with these, by providing company intensive vegetarian, vegan and plant primarily based meals choices by their modern and resort extensive ‘Wellness Your Method’ menus they’re additional including to their sustainability initiatives and decreasing the influence of tourism at JA Manafaru.
You received’t discover plastic water bottles or plastic straws at JA Manafaru, even the toothbrushes and razors are constructed from sustainable bamboo. Each side of life is being always scrutinised, in an effort to search out new methods to reduce the environmental influence. Refillable dispensers in every lavatory comprise regionally produced, natural and paraben free facilities which are each plant primarily based and reef pleasant, eliminating the necessity for single use plastic. Jason Kruse additionally spoke of present photo voltaic panels and a brand new waste administration system that’s in improvement, which alongside procuring produce with much less packaging and composting a lot of the meals waste will see additional constructive impacts. All consuming water is desalinated on the island utilizing reverse osmosis, earlier than being remineralised and distributed all through the island in planet pleasant glass bottles, one other step in the direction of decreasing the necessity for single use plastic at JA Manafaru.
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort
As a part of Marriott Worldwide, the sustainability initiatives at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort observe the group extensive 2025 Sustainability and Social Affect Objectives. These targets handle the truth that as the biggest resort operator on this planet, they’ve a fair higher obligation than most to function responsibly with their ever increasing world presence. Sustainability initiatives at The Westin Maldives embrace a meals composting machine that makes use of meals waste to supply fertaliser for the 1200 sq. foot ‘Chef Backyard’ the place an array of recent produce are cultivated, offering natural farm to-table elements to the resort’s eating places and bars. The completion of a formidable photo voltaic power venture in August 2024 has already offered the specified outcomes eradicating greater than 77,000kg of CO2 emissions within the first 3 months of operation. Basic Supervisor, Mr Vijay Kumar commented “sustainability is vital and we’re dedicated to creating options to minimise the influence we’ve got on this lovely eco-system, our new panels will serve to harness the sunshine we’re blessed with within the Maldives and cut back our reliance on power sources resembling diesel.”
The bottled water plant at The Westin Maldives produces 500 to 1000 litres every day, that means that the water wants of all visitor rooms and eating retailers are met. Seawater is desalinated and filtered by water remedy programs and reverse osmosis membranes to take away the salt and different impurities. The purified water is then sterilised, mineralised, and bottled below hygienic circumstances in biodegradable glass bottles. This supplies an eco pleasant and important different to imported bottled water and removes the usage of single use plastic water bottles completely. Carbon emissions are lowered by eliminating the necessity to import water from the mainland and by integrating the not too long ago put in photo voltaic panels, the carbon footprint is additional lowered.
When tourism launched in 1972 with the opening of Kurumba Maldives, it was unimaginable to foretell how tourism within the Maldives would look immediately. In 2024 there are actually near 200 resorts and plenty of different vacationer services together with visitor homes and dive vessels. The Noovilu Seaplane Terminal opened in 2023 which sees over 500 flights every day, while the model new terminal at Male Worldwide Airport will be capable to handle in extra of seven million passengers yearly. Tourism within the Maldives is really alive and kicking with continued world demand, so it’s solely proper that sustainable tourism within the Maldives turns into the subsequent massive factor permitting future generations to get pleasure from every little thing that the Maldives has to supply.
Paul Eyers
Paul Eyers is co-founder of Vegan Meals Quest who write about luxurious resorts and resorts in Southeast Asia with a deal with sustainable journey, eco journey and vegan journey. At present primarily based in Malaysia, Paul additionally writes about sporting occasions and a few of the best golf programs all through the area.
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