Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji: Where Conservation and Tourism Meet

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji: Where Conservation and Tourism Meet

ALLIE MURRAY

Opening as one of the first eco resorts in the world, Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji is a haven for sustainable travellers.

Located on the breathtaking island of Vanua Levu, the luxury resort overlooks the peaceful waters of Savusavu Bay. It’s not only an impressive destination for tourists to escape to, but it’s a destination that is working towards leaving the planet better than how we found it.

“My father said ‘people protect what they love’ and so we want more people to fall in love with water, with the ocean,” Jean-Michael Cousteau shared in a video. “And I say, protect the ocean, and you protect yourself.”

Cousteau’s namesake resort opened in Fiji as part of his life’s mission to communicate to people of all nations and generations his love and concern for our planet.

Cousteau, a notable French environmentalist, wanted to show travellers that sustainability and travel can go hand-in-hand.

The destination has become well-loved by families for an exciting trip with the kids, or couples seeking romantic luxury. With his love for the ocean, Cousteau’s resort is known for its snorkelling. The waters surrounding the resort are home to the largest variety of fish and coral on the planet.

To make the underwater experience even more exciting, Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort has a marine biologist onsite to share the wonders found around the resort. The resident marine biologist, Johnny Singh, leads snorkelling trips, educational workshops and more.

Since the resort opened, the team at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji have launched further initiatives towards prioritizing sustainability, including their “Every Day is Earth Day” campaign.

“We see opportunities to make a difference in the areas of climate change and social sustainability,” Bartholomew Simpson, General Manager of Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji explained. “Mitigating or reversing the damage from these areas can seem like an impossibly daunting task. But, we believe that, through our hotel’s efforts, we start by empowering and inspiring people at an individual level. From there, it ripples out—growing and evolving to where everyone believes in and supports sustainable solutions to move us forward.”

The year-round campaign highlights the resort's commitment to sustainability, leading conservation efforts in and around the greater-Savusavu community. One initiative the resort is working on is in partnership with the Savusavu Community Foundation to plant 20,000 teak trees. The teak trees, which were once abundant in the region, were torn down to make way for grazing cattle. Guests are encouraged to partake in the tree planting excursion, allowing them to participate in a vacation that helps rebuild the environment around them.

In addition to the replanting of teak trees, the “Every Day is Earth Day” campaign includes a variety of more activities that guests can join in on, including a mangrove planting program, giant clam repopulation, maintaining an organic garden, and more.

The resort makes for a vacation that will not only allow you to unwind and enjoy a tropical getaway, but also make an effort towards bettering our environment.