5 minute read
GOING GREEN
TOP COUNTRY Mauritius
green GOING
Only 2% of native forest remains on Mauritius. Leave a legacy by planting an endemic tree on the island, at Ebony Forest in Chamarel
According to the Global Wellness Trends Report 2021, tentative travel will become the new buzzword, with travellers striving to leave a place better than they found it. Mauritius is committed to sustainable tourism, with green zones, protected lagoons and eco-experiences ranging from electric bike trips to whale watching.
WILD AND FREE
The bird that most people associate with Mauritius is the dodo, but the rescue of the Mauritius Kestrel is one of the world’s greatest conservation success stories. To mark the 30th anniversary of the Republic of Mauritius in March 2022, it has been declared the island's’ national bird. Under the branding ‘Sustainable Island Mauritius’, the tourism authorities launched a campaign to eliminate single-use plastics, while Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recognition is helping to drive eco changes islandwide. Green initiatives from hotels and resorts range from beekeeping and farm-to-fork dining. Environmental projects underway are mangrove rehabilitation, sea turtle protection and reef conservation.
SUSTAINABLE ISLAND MAURITIUS
Sustainable practices at Mauritius' hotels and resorts have earned them prestigious and internationally recognised certifi cation. Sands Suites Resort & Spa is the latest to achieve Green Globe Certifi cation; Green Key certifi ed Heritage Le Telfair has been added to Small Luxury Hotels’ The Considerate Collection; and Travelife Gold certifi ed Attitude Hotels launched a Positive Impact movement in 2020, which guests can join. Attitude is the fi rst island group to eliminate single use plastics – by providing refi llable water bottles to guests and inroom supplies in reusable glass jars. From June 2022, half of all purchases will be from ‘Made in Moris’ suppliers. New generation ‘eco-committed’ hotel Sunrise Attitude even has a Rejuice Bar, which turns ugly fruit – often thrown away – into delicious juices for guests, and donates 50% of the profi ts to Foodwise, while kids at Tamassa can join a Happiness Bell Ritual in support of the local community. Mauritius Conscious creates sustainable travel itineraries in Mauritius, with or without accommodation, which are carbon
Heritage Le Telfair Golf and Wellness Resort
compensated, and with locally-led, curated experiences that support the community.
LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS
Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel’ list 2022, emphasises sustainable travel experiences, which benefi t the environment and empower local people. Rogers Hospitality is the fi rst island group to put a sustainability offi cer in each Heritage and Veranda Resort. Heritage Resorts in Bel Ombre has launched carbon neutral stays, using carbon credits to offset CO2 emissions, and carbon compensation projects from the reforestation of spare land to a solar farm, to reduce the islands dependence on fossil fuels. Sustainability commitments
Île Des Deux Cocos
© Jacques de Spéville Mauritius Kestrel
in its Now for Tomorrow initiative include sourcing 100% food locally or regionally. Green additions at Heritage Le Telfair range from biodegradable room amenities and a new solarpowered glass bottom boat to a partnership with silicone-free and biodegradable Avène Suncare. Innovative projects under Green Globe certifi ed LUX* Resorts & Hotels green initiative, ‘Tread Lightly’, range from carbon free stays to climate action, with solar-power on Île Des Deux Cocos. Artisanal ice cream and sorbets made from locally-sourced seasonal products, from Royal Pineapple with pepper to local Tamarind is new at Heritage Le Telfair. Eco-conscious SALT of Palmar, is recognised by Positive Luxury.
Westin Turtle Bay & Spa resort
E-Bike
Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok now has an electric luxury car, BMW1X – the islands fi rst. Sun Resorts’ Île aux Cerfs has refi llable glass bottles at the restaurant and electric boats in the pipeline. The LUX* Collective owns three out of the four VeganWelcome certifi ed hotels in Mauritius features plant-based ‘Keen on Green’ items. The new Coco concept at Westin Turtle Bay Resort and Spa pays homage to the coconut by featuring traditional coconut pastries, a coconut body scrub and more. A new collectable experience at LUX* Grand Gaube, ‘Hug Me Honey’, includes learning about beekeeping at the hives, making a honey scrub and an à la carte honey pairing dinner.
TOP FIVE SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
1 A ‘Conservationist for the Day’ on Île aux
Aigrettes with leading NGO, Mauritius Wildlife
Foundation features feeding baby tortoises, bird watching and examining a skink 2 A new 30 minute Green Loop at
Ebony Forest in Chamarel, features a museum visit, squeezing through invasive guava, visiting restored native forest and the endemic nursery 3 Learn to weave bamboo baskets, braid vacoas palm or create terracotta lamps for Divali, from village artisans on a cultural immersion tour from My
Moris, run by an anthropologist 4 Go whale watching with eco-conscious operator Blue Water Diving Center accompanied by underwater photographer,
Hugh Vitry, and a marine biologist 5 An electrobike ride with Explore Nou Zil to
Souillac includes lunch at roti-maker Mala’s village home, which supports a local family
