SOST ISSUE 14, AUGUST 2014 by Spotlight on Sustainable Tourism (SOST)

Issue 14 ● August 2014 ISSN 2227-4065

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Munduk Moding Plantation , Indonesia Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, UAE

Feature: Yangshuo Mountain Retreat, China

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Point of View: Ecotourism – a tool for sustainable development

Green Showcase: Matava, Fiji

Contents

Kumud Sengupta Managing Editor email:

m.ed@sostinternational.com

22 SOST TEAM M. Ivanova

Contents

B. Thomas J. Vaz

SOST August 2014

ABOUT SOST

Editorial

Feedback:

SOST gets feedback from around the world

News & Events:

SOST shares news and updates on its activities

07 Feature: Yangshuo Mountain Retreat, China

11 • •

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism: In the Spotlight:

Munduk Moding Plantation, Indonesia Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, UAE

22 Point of View: Ecotourism – a tool for sustainable development

25 Market Intelligence: Consumers are ready to pay more for social responsibility

Green Showcase:

Matava, Fiji

(SOST) is an e-journal published by Market Vision for internal circulation and to our clients and subscribers. It is available to our website visitors on: www.sostinternational.com

Green Business Directory

Listing of Eco-businesses

Spotlight on Sustainable Tourism

Market Vision:

- Travel & Tourism Research & Consulting - Sustainable Travel Development – Advisory Services

Market Vision Research & Consulting Services FZ-LLC P.O. Box 32394, Dubai, UAE Tel: +9714-3911241 Fax: +9714-3911245 www.market-vision.com

Editorial

As I mentioned in the previous issue, I hope all of us in this industry play our part in encouraging travellers to patronize those in the travel supply chain that practice responsible tourism. In this issue, SOST once again showcases some shining examples of responsible tourism companies.

SOST’s mission is to motivate stakeholders in the travel & tourism industry to adopt sustainable business practices with the message that sustainable tourism is ‘Good for the Planet and Good for Business’.

In this issue, our main feature is on Yangshuo Mountain Retreat in China, recognised as one of the World’s 25 Best Ecolodges in 2013 by National Geographic. In our Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism feature, we showcase Munduk Moding Plantation located in Gobleg village, North Bali, recognized as a luxury resort based on a working coffee plantation, and Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, a hotel in the UAE, a pioneer in many environment conservation activities in the UAE. In Green Showcase, we present Matava – Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort. The ability to partake in world class activities to experience the true beauty of Fiji and its people is the purpose for Matava’s existence. It has received a 2014 TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award. In the column Point of View, contributing author Teryyann Mutindi, the membership and marketing officer at Ecotourism Kenya, also representing Ecotourism Kenya at the Secretariat, speaks about the importance of environmental and cultural conservation in Kenya in her article ‘Ecotourism – a tool for sustainable development’. There’s more in the Market Intelligence and News and Events sections. The Business Directory has some new additions too – do have a look. We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, we look forward to your comments and feedback. Let us know what else you would like to read about. Happy Reading!

Kumud Sengupta Managing Editor Certified Assessor & Consultant for Sustainable Tourism Founder-Director, Market Vision

Feedback

“I was introduced to SOST while working in Oman, and was happy to see it reach across when I moved to Vietnam. The reason I always read SOST is a combination of the features they produce for hospitality as well as gaining insight and understanding what our competitors are doing in the area of sustainability. The writing is both informative and creative, and I am always keen to see what stories come out in the next issue.” Monica Majors Director of Marketing and Communications Six Senses, Vietnam The quality of journalism is exemplary. I hope you continue to inspire and educate. Srinath S. Singapore I think SOST should also highlight some of the ‘worst’ practices being adopted by hotels and other tourism operators that are leading to degradation of tourist resorts and sites. This is important for the world to know. Rita Hewitt London, UK

Spotlight on Sustainable Tourism (SOST) really stays true to its name and we are thoroughly pleased with being featured in the e-journal. The world is now conscious of the need for tourism to be carried out in a responsible manner and that as an industry we must protect the environment and be sustainable in every way we can. SOST provides the correct platform for sustainable tourism products and we are glad we got to be a part of it. Upashama Talgaswatte Senior Marketing Communications Executive Jetwing Hotels Sri Lanka SOST continues to deliver great coverage on sustainable tourism companies. It provides for an interesting read. Anna Marie Thomas Sharjah, UAE I recently came across SOST and found it to be very educational and relevant. The interviews and articles are well presented. Amir Mohammed Hyderabad , India

SOST is read by a diverse audience consisting of professionals in the tourism industry, tourism business owners, destination marketers and academia. It has particularly found favour with those interested in sustainable and responsible tourism. SOST is promoted to (a) a growing database of subscribers and customers numbering over 10,000 travel and tourism industry professionals, and (b) online business networks with memberships exceeding 100,000. It is also read by visitors to its recently launched website: www.sostinternational.com, and Facebook page: www.facebook.com/sostjournal. Twitter account @SOST_intl has also been recently launched – do follow us. Launched in March 2012, four issues of SOST were published in the year. Since 2013, SOST is a bimonthly publication (six issues per year). For sponsorship and advertising details, please contact: advertise@sostinternational.com.

News & Events

Sri Lankan Village Nugu Gama carbon neutral Nugu Gama, located within the grounds of the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo, became Asia’s first CarbonNeutral venue. Nugu Gama (The Banyan village) takes pride of place in the hotel’s commitment to environmental best business practice. The Cinnamon Grand supports the continuance of authentic traditions by employing more than 35 craftsmen and artists from villages around the country to make traditional handicrafts for sale to guests. Sri Lankan culture can also be experienced through enjoying local cuisine and entertainment provided at Nugu Gama. To achieve the CarbonNeutral certification carbon emissions from Nuga Gama’s operations were systematically calculated by The Carbon Consulting Company in accordance with stringent guidelines set by the hotel’s partner The CarbonNeutral Company. Greenhouse gas emissions were then completely offset against carbon credits that amounted to the venue’s carbon emissions being quantified as ‘Net Zero’ or zero emissions.

Cinnamon Grand has initiated its own Ewaste Awareness and Recycling program aimed at staff. Digital TV guides have replaced paper guides and paper usage is monitored in all hotel departments with the aim of reducing paper wastage each quarter. Other recyclable materials such as plastic bottles, glass, paper and plastic are sold to an external recycling source with funds raised donated to charities. To conserve energy usage, timers have been installed on lighting systems, and sensor-operated light systems are used in the basement and ground floor corridors. And to reduce wastage, wastewater from restaurants and the cafeteria is reused in fishponds, cooking oil from kitchens is reused in boilers in place of furnace oil and newspapers are only delivered on request. The hotel encourages staff to attend ongoing monthly green forums led by scientists and experts in environmental conservation and the hotel itself has its own Green Team dedicated to raise awareness of green strategies. Regular seminars and campaigns are held for

suppliers with the intent to provide further education on sustainability initiatives. The Cinnamon Grand prides itself on its principles of corporate social responsibility and sustainability. Its goal is to reduce its carbon footprint through its Green Agenda that focuses on waste management, energy and water management, conservation and community awareness. It does this through various green initiatives that support sustainable lifestyles and decision making which will minimize the hotel’s impact on the environment.

Source: http://www.eturbonews.com/49076/sri-lankanvillage-nugu-gama-carbon-neutral

The Tiki Village at the Grand Hotel Excelsior– A shining example of Sustainable Tourism put into practice The Grand Hotel Excelsior is launching the Tiki Village as its newest breathtaking venue by the water’s edge. The Village has been set up close to the Marina, so guests can revel in stunning harbour views while relaxing in a beautiful and exotic ambiance. The Tiki Village is comprised of 10 Villas, which can be rented out by guests, and its unique Blue Ocean Bar. The inception of the Tiki Villas took place

in The Philippines when the hotel owners visited self-employed carpenters who earn their living by producing indigenous products. The base of the Villas is comprised of bamboo, while the roof is made of Nipa, a species of palm native to the coastlines of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Indeed the Villas are typical to the style of carpentry commonly used in The Philippines.

buying mass-produced products, the Grand Hotel Excelsior is able to offer a more authentic experience to guests. Furthermore the hotel is promoting Fair Trade whilst assisting workers in The Philippines to make a living and improve their quality of life. It is a shining example of Sustainable tourism put into practice.

By opting to purchase the Villas from selfemployed carpenters, as opposed to Source: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/201407 10/travel/tiki-village-at-excelsior-hotel.527154

News & Events

Travel and tourism sustainability The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) launched its 2015 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards programon on 28th August and is calling for applications from all travel and tourism companies, who are setting the sustainability benchmark in their field. As David Scowsill, CEO and President of the World Travel & Tourism Council explains, the purpose of the awards is to be an inspiration to others and to educate governments and travel and tourism businesses about how to improve the sustainability of the Industry. The travel and tourism industry needs to put sustainability at the forefront of everything it does and businesses need to lead by example. Fiona Jeffery OBE, former Chairman of World Travel Market (WTM) and Chairman and founder of the international water aid charity, Just a Drop, is the new Chair of the Awards. She says the awards recognize best practice worldwide.

businesses

The awards involve a three-step application process. This year, a lead judge, Professor Graham Miller, has been appointed to oversee it. He says that it is vital that the judging mechanism is rigorous. In the eleventh year under WTTC stewardship, the awards have six award categories: • Community Award - recognizes organizations committed to sustainable tourism leadership in local community development, empowerment and cultural heritage • Destination Award - recognizes destinations which show commitment to supporting and delivering sustainable tourism best practices • Environment Award - recognizes organizations achieving environmental best practice through biodiversity

inspiring

conservation, protection of natural habitats, addressing climate change, and green operations • Innovation Award - recognizes innovative solutions to overcoming the challenges faced by Travel and tourism in implementing sustainability in practice • People Award - recognizes organizations dedicated to the development of capacity building, training and education to build a skilled tourism workforce for the future • Sustainable Business Award recognizes large tourism businesses which successfully integrate sustainable tourism best practices into their planning and operations Source: http://www.eturbonews.com/49587/travel-andtourism-businesses-inspiring-sustainability

Comprehensive sustainable tourism criteria launched for India In a bid to enhance its sustainability offerings, the union minister for tourism, Shripad Naik recently launched the comprehensive sustainable tourism criteria for India (STCI) for accommodation, tour operators and beaches, backwaters, lakes and rivers sectors. The Minister said, his Ministry is committed to develop tourism in India based on principles of sustainability and minimizing carbon footprints. Naik urged all stakeholders in the tourism industry not to over-exploit natural and other resources for short-term gains. He said, when we talk about sustainability

we should not only talk about conservation of resources but also our culture and heritage. The authors of STCI have adopted a comprehensive approach. The principles of sustainability include conservation of water, energy, culture, heritage, revival of ancient architecture, involvement of communities, protection of wildlife and non- exploitation of women, children and weaker sections. Naik further added that exercise of implementation of sustainable tourism criteria must be all inclusive. The criteria must be implemented for success by all of us together – hoteliers, tour operators, tourists, opinion makers, media, community leaders and members. The

Ministry would like sustainability criteria to be implemented on voluntary basis based on principles of providing incentives. All the stakeholders in the tourism industry have been asked to be ecosensitive and adopt the Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India. They have been urged to do business for long-term benefits with varied objectives. Ministry of Tourism constituted a steering committee with representatives from all the 14 sectors of the tourism and hospitality industry of India to formulate the Sustainable Tourism Criteria. Source: http://www.traveldailymedia.com/211466/compreh ensive-sustainable-tourism-criteria-launched-forindia/

Yangshuo Mountain Retreat

Feature

Yangshuo Mountain Retreat, China

Finalist

Yangshuo Mountain Retreat is a world-renowned eco-lodge on the Yulong River in Yangshuo China. In this interview, Chris Barclay, Designer/Founder, Yangshuo Mountain Retreat , shares insights about the hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique approach to eco-living and their sustainability practices.

When did Yangshuo started operations and how did it come about? Yangshuo Mountain Retreat is the first Yangshuo Retreat since year 2000 and provides an authentic countryside hotel experience for guests, with a commitment to sustainability. The retreat is unique among Yangshuo hotels in its unspoiled, peaceful environment with stunning views of the limestone karst towers, emerald rice fields and the tranquil Yulong River.

Could you describe the ecopractices that you follow at Yangshuo Mountain Retreat ? We are the first hotel in Yangshuo (perhaps in all of China) to voluntarily reject the use of disposable items in our daily business, including paper napkins, single-use chopsticks, water bottles and plastic bags, having replaced plastic with biodegradable fabric bags in all our trash

bins. These double as laundry bags and gift bags, as we ordered in large quantities and had our logo printed on them. We have a wood burning fireplace for which we are using some agriwaste briquettes we learned how to make from a professor in Cuba. We built our own screw press and have experimented to find a good solution from rice husks, sawdust, old newspaper pulp, and glycerol. The briquettes burn much cleaner than local firewood and reduces our consumption of tree wood. Instead of using plastic bottles, we branded stainless steel thermoses which we buy from an outside supplier, and put in all of our guestrooms. We also use glass bottles in the guest rooms which we refill from recyclable water coolers, which we have around the hotel and encourage guests to use to refill on their own. If they want to take a water bottle out for a day trip, they take the stainless

thermos, which they will then pay a small price to keep. We have also found that many guests buy them as gifts to take home.

How do you measure water and energy consumption? We use low-wattage non-incandescent bulbs throughout the property, and rely on local hydro-powered electric for all our energy needs, except for bottled LPG for the kitchen stoves. We also installed our own passive solar for some hot water supply. The climate of the area does not

Feature

Yangshuo Mountain Retreat

allow us to rely on it completely, especially in very cold, cloudy winters.

keep from clogging and let more gray water evaporate naturally.

have commissioned his work around the property.

We water our garden by hand and have signs in all our guestrooms to encourage guests to re-use their towels and do their best to conserve water.

We rent only bicycles and encourage our guests to either bike or walk through the valley, reducing vehicle traffic, noise and need for parking. We continue to lobby the government to allow only electric cars on the main roads in the valley, except for local village traffic. We do not allow large groups in tour buses to stay at the Retreat, but rather encourage families, couples and small groups of guests to explore the valley on foot or by bike, avoiding the pickup and drop-off tourism overdevelopment fuelled by high guide commissions.

We pay the local cormorant fishermen to come and fish in front of our property on the Yulong River. The guests can watch them and take pictures without disturbing the birds. We also bring in traditional dancers and musicians to entertain and educate guests on their dress and instruments.

Because we supply our own water, we do not meter usage. We have actually increased our use of refillable water cooler bottles for refilling guest thermoses and drinking water bottles, which we estimate has eliminated over 17,000 plastic water bottles from circulation each year.

What do you do with your waste water and how do you reduce carbon emissions? We have a gray water pond and a natural underground filtration system. Because of this, we ask guests to put their used toilet paper in the bin, as it allows our system to

What measurable impact has been made on the local population and environment in which Yangshuo Mountain Retreat operates? In every guestroom we display artwork for sale buy a local artist, Forest Xu, and

During rice planting and harvest season, we help organize guests to go into the paddy fields and try their hand at working alongside the farmers. We also organize groups to help farmers with the picking of pomelo and mandarin oranges. It is a small gesture, but one that lets guests appreciate how the local farmers work and live. We also sell chili paste and honey made by the families of our local staff who are all from surrounding villages.

Yangshuo Mountain Retreat

At Yangshuo Mountain Retreat , we pay far above the average salaries for properties in Yangshuo County and share profits with all staff. Each year we pay an average of 2 months salary bonus for Chinese New Year. We also provide interest free loans for staff to repair their homes or help their families start small businesses. We buy all of our produce from nearby farmers at market prices and have agreements to buy certain produce that we want only for our own hotel that they grow for us.

tourist expectations. This has helped form a fledgling B&B industry in the Yulong River Valley villages. We are preparing free training for the villagers this winter at our hotel on how they can make simple low-cost changes to create guest rooms suitable for outside visitors.

What kind of training do you provide to your staff and what benefits do you offer your employees?

What activities do you offer your guests in collaboration with the communities you operate in?

We provide English and guest service training, as well as problem solving, critical thinking and supervisory skills through our Staff Development Coach.

We encourage small groups of guests to visit the village homes of our staff for home-style cooking, local tours and even overnight stays. This has encouraged these and other families to set up their own simple home stays. By training our staff, who are 100% from nearby villages, in basic hospitality management, they have been able to help their relatives and fellow villagers to better meet western

Every year we bring staff on an annual trip to some place in China where they can learn more about Chinese culture and tourism. Because our staff are local villagers, they normally wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t travel on their own. We have organized trips to Beijing, Shanghai, Sanya, Lijiang, Suzhou and Chiang Mai Thailand. Until this year, we have had a full-time staff development coach at the property to provide regular

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English training and learning in areas such as guest service, problem solving, critical thinking and computer literacy. Our most recent coach of 5 years recently took over ownership of a localguesthouse, but visits regularly to meet with staff.

Do you have any programs to improve the level of education of the local community? In 2012 I founded Ginkgo Academy, just across the river from our property. We have since received a substantial donation from Hillary and Bill Clinton personally, who have also sponsored us as a participating member of the Clinton Global Initiative. Our goal is to provide a world class learning experience for children in China who are denied an education due to a physical disability. Our first staff hired is a young woman (Angel Zhao) with a severe form of brittle bone disease. Despite her lack of access to education, we were able to train her to be an outstanding receptionist and front office manager. We have encouraged her to be an advocate for children in China

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Yangshuo Mountain Retreat

Corporate Teambuilding, Yangshuo Mountain Retreat with physical disabilities and she will be personally involved in the development of the Ginkgo Academy.

Please provide some insights into your customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; profile. Where do they come from, what age and gender are they, and what motivates them to stay at Yangshuo Mountain Retreat? For the past 14 years, over 95% of our guests have some from western countries, Singapore, Korea and Japan. But since 2012, more and more staying with us are Chinese families who drive here from South China. We have many young couples, older couples and families. All of them like natural setting, amazing views, the service and local fresh food.

What is your sustainability message to the travel trade? Hire and empower local people,

encourage travel by bike or on foot to less commercialized areas to

experience local life and avoid all disposable products at your property.

Munduk Moding Plantation

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Munduk Moding Plantation , Indonesia

Munduk Moding Plantation is located in Gobleg village, North Bali. The area is largely agricultural and produces most of the coffee and vegetables consumed on the island. Munduk Moding Plantation was built on a poorly maintained coffee plantation and started operations in June 2009, with all the staff recruited locally. In this interview, Mr Gede Suparwata, member of the management team shares with us Munduk Moding Plantationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sustainability policy and their ecologically friendly practices.

What was the motivation behind setting up such a project in North Bali? The basic idea underpinnng Munduk Moding Plantation was to set up a high end boutique resort practising sustainable tourism and demonstrating to its guests, staff and the people of the area that luxury tourism can benefit the environment and the local population while allowing guests to get much closer to the nature and culture of the area, thereby enjoying a tailor made experience. International tourism is new in this region, therefore Munduk Moding Plantation aims at empowering the local population by demonstrating them that sustainable tourism is in their interest, respects the local culture and helps promote a better environment. We greatly enjoy the

challenge of achieving this objective and hope that our success will serve as a source of inspiration to other operators on the island.

What makes the plantation unique? What makes it ecologically friendly? Munduk Moding Plantation is the only high end accommodation in this area. It is probably the only luxury resort in Bali based on a working coffee plantation, with a dedicated jungle area, practising sustainable agriculture and involving the local community to the extent we do. We offer all our guests the "Munduk Moding Plantation experience programme' which allows them to explore different aspects of the culture and nature of this part of the Island. Munduk Moding Plantation probably also has some of the best views on the Island: located at 1150

meters, on a clear day, guests will be able to enjoy unparalelled views of the coast line of Northern Bali and the Volcanoes on Java. Since the very beginning, Munduk Moding Plantation has committed to preserving the nature and culture of this part of the Island, which undoubtedly are the two major keys to develop eco-tourism in Bali. As a small plantation on just five hectares Munduk Moding has decided to keep all of its trees to feed enough water to the

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Munduk Moding Plantation

Since the very beginning, Munduk Moding Plantation has committed to preserving the nature and culture of this part of the Island which undoubtedly are the two major keys to develop eco-tourism in Bali. spring on the site which is used by the plantation. In fact, this decision has attracted a remarkable number of small animals and birds and the re-emergence of plants that used to be only found in the rainforest. Hunting is strictly prohibited and our "jungle area" is untouched, giving our guests the opportunity to hike through unspoilt nature at just a couple of minutes from their comfortable lodgings. We manage and filter our waste water through a series of dedicated waste water gardens that deal with the effluents from our kitchen and restaurant. Our grey effluents are collected in septic tanks and used for natural fertilisation. In addition, we separate our organic waste which we compost in our dedicated composting centre. We use energy efficient appliances and LED lamps and have recently installed a first series of heat pumps that are very energy efficient. Over

time, our ambition is to make Munduk Moding Plantation to a zero carbon operation by also introducing renewable enery production. We are currently working with a specialised provider to develop a masterplan to this end.

Munduk Moding Plantation’s core philosophy is based on responsible tourism. Can you describe the key features of this philosophy? Munduk Moding Plantation philosophy holds that Munduk Moding Plantation should contribute to the natural environment, in which it is located and help its preservation and regeneration; be beneficial to the staff and the local community and at the same time make business sense. We believe that these objectives require a long term orientation in the running of Munduk Moding Plantation, including a philosophy based on progressive improvement in all three dimensions. We also consider that

Munduk Moding Plantation should not grow beyond 18 rooms to allow everyone staying and working at the plantation to enjoy real human interaction with one other. All of this is in line with Balinese philosophy Tri Hita Karana. Tri Hita Karana means three sources of happiness. These are: • The relationship between human beings and the natural environment (environmental aspect) • The relationship among human beings (community aspect) • The relationship between mankind and God (cultural aspect). To achieve the environmental aspect, Munduk Moding Plantation has been planting more coffee and endangered domestic trees. In addition Munduk Moding Plantation sorts out the waste into organic and non organic. The organic is composted and used as organic fertilizer for the plantation. Furthermore, Munduk

Munduk Moding Plantation

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

On a monthly basis, the Munduk Moding Plantation management team has dedicated environmental education and training sessions, where it explains to all staff relevant environmental issues in order to create awareness. Moding Plantation has 2 waste water gardens. The first one is for the laundry and the second one is for the kitchen. What is more Munduk Moding Plantation stores the rain water in a tank for watering the garden. To achieve the community aspect, Munduk Moding Plantation has been working closely with the local people in the village. Every Sunday, Munduk Moding Plantation welcomes local children to attend Balinese dance class. We provide instructor, costume and venue. Afterwards, the children have the opportunity to learn English. What is more, Munduk Moding Plantation supports local volleyball team, local traditional martial arts, Kinder Garden and local badminton team. In addition, Munduk Moding Plantation has been supporting a local traditional

Balinese Gamelan group by inviting them to perform at the resort. To achieve the cultural aspect, Munduk Moding Plantation built a temple in the hotel premises to allow staff to pray on daily basis. Every sixth months, on the odalan of the temple, Munduk Moding Plantation supports the offering and roast suckling pig. Odalan is a commemoration to mark the day of the templeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s completion. In addition, Munduk Moding Plantation has a program to allow the staff to pray in any temple in Bali. We believe that if harmony among these three relationships is maintained, then prosperity will be achieved.

Do you provide Environmental Education & Training to staff? Yes, we do. We have dedicated environmental education and training

sessions for our staff on a monthly basis in parallel with the general meeting. The Munduk Moding Plantation management team explains to all staff relevant environmental issues in order to create awareness.

What measurable impact has Munduk Moding made on the local environment and the community, in which it operates? How do you increase local engagement to create positive impact? Munduk Moding Plantation celebrates its anniversary every year and uses this opportunity to listen to the local people. We generally have positive feedback from the local people, many of whom have been involved with the construction and/or maintenance of the plantation. We also source locally where possible. In addition, we meet the head of the

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Munduk Moding Plantation

The Munduk Moding Plantation experience includes but is not limited to guided walks on our coffee plantation to take our guest to learn about our compost, waste water garden system and nearby spring. In addition spinning top games which is unique to the area, kite making and playing, basic wood carving etc.

village and Banjar (hamlet) regularly to get valuable suggestions. All of the management team and staff came from the village and integrated well with the community. We keep monitoring on daily basis to increase the local engagement; For instance: we always support the locals when the people in the village create ‘Ogoh Ogoh’ one day before Balinese New Year as well as any other activities initiated in the village. We give up to 500 seedlings to local people for tree planting purposes which has had a notable impact on our direct environment. Moreover, we make two fellowships available for bright but poor local children to fund the cost of taking them through high school (the selection is made by the schools and the Head of the Banjar).

What activities do you offer your guests? We have been offering the Munduk Moding Plantation experience to all of our in house guests supplementary to their lodging. The Munduk Moding Plantation experience includes but is not limited to guided walks on our coffee plantation to take our guest to learn about our compost, waste water garden system and nearby spring. In addition we offer spinning top games which is unique to the area, kite making and playing, basic wood carving, how to wear Balinese attire, traditional Balinese dance class, coffee processing demonstration using traditional tools and traditional Balinese offering making. Many great walks and tours are available to guests to explore the culture and

nature of the area, incuding visits to the local Balian (healer) as well as meeting with the Priest.

How do you ensure these activities have no impact or positive impact on the local environment? All these activities have a very low impact on the environment and rely on the use of local materials. In addition, we take our guests to the local market and shops to buy directly from them to support local economy. We also offer a dedicated Munduk Moding Plantation Nature and Culture Package which really immerses our guests in the area's nature and culture, including a dedicated tree planting session.

Please provide some insights into your customers’ profile. Where do they come from, what age and

Munduk Moding Plantation

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Our role in pioneering tourism sustainable development and being an innovative leader in the tourism industry has sparked interest in sustainable tourism and eco-friendly travel in China. gender are they, and what motivates them to visit Munduk Moding Plantation and use your services? Our customers come from all over the world, with the majority of being from Europe. Most of them are families and honeymooners. We also have an increasing number of repeated guests who are often based in cities like Singapore and who come to relax and unwind in a very green environment. We have guests from all age groups the majority are between 21 to 45 years old.

From your experience in leading Munduk Moding and knowledge of the industry and customers, what trends do you see for the travel and tourism industry in the future? We believe that there is a growingmarket for high end sustainable tourism.

More and more well heeled tourists prefer to stay in accommodations which offer all the modern convenince and luxury people at this level are used to, but equally they seek a personalised service that integrates care for the local environment and culture. Travellers are increasingly seeking a much more genuine and "deeper" experience of the places they visit in a way that would not compromise their character. What are the long term benefits that hotel and lodge operators can expect from being involved in sustainable business practices that include environmental, socio-cultural and economic aspects? The long term benefits for the hotel and lodge operators are essentially that the business model itself becomes more durable given the stronger commitment of staff, the local community and guests to help what such operators are trying to achieve. Moreover, beyond the commercial aspects, this business model will ultimately also be more rewarding for

the owners and operators themselves.

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

For example, we have noticed that the local people are increasingly looking at Munduk Moding Plantation in a positive perspective which greatly helps running a luxury operation that in many ways is a pioneer in the area.The reality is that without the help of the local population we cannot succeed. In addition, we notice that increasingly perspective customers from all over the world, atively enquire about our business practices as a factor shaping their decision to stay at the plantation. Many say that the fact that Munduk Moding Plantation cares about the environment is an important consideration.

Can this be advantage?

competitive

As mentioned, we believe that it

Munduk Moding Plantation

certainly can and that the short term costs should be seen as an investment in a more durable long term business model.

What is your sustainability message to the travel trade? Even though Munduk Moding Plantation is only a small scale establishment, we believe that our operations over the past years have shown that sustainable tourism contribution to the environment and local peoples' welfare makes business sense as well.

Awards & Recognition Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2013 winner, 5 star rating Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2014 winner, 5 star rating Asia Spa third best world infinity pool

Ramada Ajman 17

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Ramada Ajman, UAE Mr. Iftikhar Hamdani, General Manager

The luxury 4-star Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman is operated by R Hotels under a franchise agreement from Wyndham Hotels International and offers a wide range of facilities. It has implemented several Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in cooperation with the management and the employees of the hotel. In this interview, Mr. Iftikhar Hamdani, General Manager of Ramada Ajman, shares with us the responsible business practices and activities spearheaded by him at the hotel, with support from his dedicated team. What are the key tenets of your sustainability philosophy at Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman? And how do you ensure it is implemented? At Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman (Ramada Ajman), we believe that one should be cautious about the environment we live in. As resources are scarce, we all should think about using them wisely and think about the generations to come. We have to work hard to preserve and sustain the environment. Ramada Ajman is proud to say that we have made conscious efforts to preserve our natural resources. This involves the

implementation of various green activities, through which we are able to strive to save our environment. Our policy is not only to just conduct green initiatives in the hospitality industry but to also get maximum visibility among and support from the local community. We encourage everyone to participate in sustaining our environment.

Can you give us some details about Ramada Ajmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key sustainability features and the environmental best practices that you follow? I must say that any simple way that can contribute to a change for the better in our community and environment is the key for sustaining our natural resources. Ramada Ajman is an active participant in the worldwide community sustainability activities such as celebrating Earth Hour, Earth Day and World Environmental Day. We also conduct periodic beach clean-up drives in the Ajman Public Beach.

Ramada Ajman is known for its great contribution towards the environment ever since we launched the Zero Landfill Project in 2012. This was the first ever waste management system implemented by any hotel in the UAE. The Zero Landfill Project intends to recycle and reduce the hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s organic waste, which is about 800 kg to 1, 000 kg daily. On the other hand, the inorganic waste such as plastics, cardboards, papers, bottles, cans/tins and used oils are given to recyclers. The initial efforts on this Zero Landfill Project have generated positive results as the property achieved nearly 90% in terms of waste diversion.

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Ramada Ajman

The hotel produces about 50 kg of highgrade fertilizer/compost from 500 kg of organic waste through the on-site composting system that is good enough to keep the hotel’s green environment enhanced. It also saves the hotel the annual garbage fee of nearly AED 120,000 (~$33, 000). Another ground breaking green project initiated by Ramada Ajman is the set up of the Urban Farm. About 430 sq m from the property’s vast parking space were transformed into an Urban Farm where seasonal vegetables are planted and harvested and then utilized in the hotel’s kitchen operation. At Ramada Ajman we are open to lead different activities and initiatives that can contribute to a sustainable environment. We have organised committees (Go Green Committee and Charity Committee) to monitor the progress and to initiate further actions in our current projects. Additionally, we organize a number of CSR initiatives, such as the “Children’s Painting Competition – Go Green: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”. The event is geared-up to call for students to showcase their painting talents and at

the same time helps to create awareness about pressing environment issues, and seeks ideas from the youth on how to combat global warming.

socio-cultural and economic)? What operational cost savings have been achieved?

Through this initiative, about 100,000 families have been educated and awareness levels have been raised in the Northern Emirates.

The composting machine cost us approximately AED 250,000 (~ $68,500) as a full unit. However, it saves the hotel an annual garbage skip fee plus it has a good impact on the environment.

What measures are taken to monitor performance and progress in meeting sustainability targets (environmental,

Furthermore, the compost/fertilizer which is processed through the composting machine is used it in our Urban Farm and

Ramada Ajman

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

any surplus quantity is supplied to a nearby community in Ajman.

Do you provide Environmental Education & Training to staff? Do you have an Environmental and Respectful Code of Conduct for guests? Yes, we do provide environmental education and training for our staff and even to our guests. Initially this was a challenge for us given that we have 250+ staff and 388 rooms. However, over time, we have managed to achieve success. The “Zero Landfill” initiative is a very good example of education and training. We involve everybody in the hotel, whether guest or staff. Upon check-in, we encourage our guests to segregate any garbage they may have as per the colour-coded garbage bags found in each room. The same applies to our staff. Our kitchen & housekeeping staff ensures that any waste is segregated as per the colour-coded bags provided.

educate people within the emirates about sustainable environment through green activities. Ramada Ajman is honoured to have been invited to participate in this month-long sustainable event. As a participant, we organised different activities such as arranging a complimentary tour in the hotel’s Zero Landfill Room and Urban Farm. We organised the “Go Green Painting Exhibition” where we showcased the art paintings done by the school children during the “Children’s Painting Competition”. We offered special room rates for our guests and special ‘Green’ menus were created to celebrate the Green Festival.

You participate in the UAE Green Festival. Can you enlighten us about this program?

Earlier this year, you hosted the GCC Ecotourism conference. Could you provide some details about this event?

The UAE Green Festival is a country-wide celebration specifically designed to

Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman hosted the “GCC Ecotourism Conference” for two

consecutive days, 30th & 31st March, 2014 at the hotel’s Majestic Ballroom. The conference was attended by corporate stakeholders, and international associations and delegates discussed and shared experiences about ecotourism. I am glad I had the chance to share the importance of waste management in the hospitality industry.

What positive impact has being a responsible tourism hotel had on your business? What are the long term benefits from being involved in sustainable business practices? Can this be a competitive advantage? Based on the hotel’s performance in the past years, Ramada Ajman is now one of the leading hotels in the Northern Emirates in terms of occupancy. This being said, being a responsible tourism company is important not only for the business but also for the well-being of our environment.

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Ramada Ajman

Upon check-in, we inform and encourage our guests to segregate any garbage they have as per the colour-coded garbage bags found in each room. We have been recognised by different award giving bodies due to the various Corporate Social Responsibilities we lead and are involved in. With pride and honour, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman has been awarded the “Best Hotel with Charity Initiatives in 2012”, “Wyndham Green Hotel 2013 and in 2014” overtaking the other properties under the Wyndham Hotel Group in the EMEA Region. In 2014, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman was the silver awardee in the “Middle East & North Africa Travel Awards 2014 as the “Best Environmental Hotel 2014”. I am proud to say that because of our green reputation Ramada Ajman has been frequently invited to host and participate in different sustainability conferences and events. Personally I have represented the hotel in

a number of conferences, such as “The 4th Annual Sustainable Development & Inclusive Growth Congress by Dr. Alleem Rashid, including being a guest speaker during the “Wyndham Brand Meeting” at Ramada Jumeirah in May 2012; “Ajman Green Economy Conference 2013” organized by Ajman Municipality on June 10, 2013; GCC Ecotourism Conference on March 31, 2014, and Outdoor Design Build & Supply Exhibition on Sustainability in Hotels in April, 2014 and at the Hotelier Middle East’s Sustainability Summit in May, 2014.

Do you follow any international guidelines in Best Practices in Sustainable Management? Does Ramada Ajman have any external eco / green certification? Ramada Ajman has international guidelines in Best Practices in Sustainable Management through the Wyndham Green Program initiated under

Wyndham Worldwide. The program is being followed by the Wyndham Hotel Group properties. It is a way of living and working based on the Company’s core values in terms of sustaining the property’s support to the environment. Although certification and awards are important, we do not strive to work only for those. We do believe in practical efforts to make a difference. Our motto is to bring change with actions that speak louder than words. This is what we try to do on a daily basis and this gives us real satisfaction.

Ramada Ajman

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

The journey of sustaining our environment is a continuous process that requires a lot of effort. We all need to be willing to spend time in order to achieve our goal. And finally, what is your sustainability message to the travel trade? We all have roles to play in protecting our environment. The journey of sustaining our environment is a continuous process that requires a lot of effort. We all need to be willing to spend time in order to achieve our goal. Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman will continue to carry on with our green projects to help preserve the environment for the future generations.

Point of View

Ecotourism - a tool for sustainable development The development of tourism has been faced by poor planning and management of tourism in popular wildlife parks and reserves has led to environmental degradation arising from habitat destruction and animal harassment. This is due to vehicle congestion, lodge construction and off road driving. Responsible tourism can ensure restoration of the environment and improved livelihoods of local people and greater benefits.

Our contributing writer for the Point of View column is Teryyann Mutindi, the membership and marketing officer at Ecotourism Kenya. She also represents Ecotourism Kenya at the Secretariat. In this article, Ms Mutindi speaks about the importance of environmental conservation. She asserts that after years of mass tourism, it is time for Kenya to protect itsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; natural reserves and involve tourists in campaigns to conserve destinations in Kenya. Although it shares some of its aspects with other forms of tourism, ecotourism is a facilitator for responsible tourism applicable to any type of mass tourism. It should be viewed as distinct from other categories of tourism. When properly understood, ecotourism further extends respect and benefits to the natural environment as well as the people there in. Within the tourism sector, ecotourism focuses on minimizing the environmental and cultural consequences, contributing to conservation, community development and environmental education.

The growth of ecotourism in Kenya is however constrained by a weak policy, legal and regulatory framework; limited level of community involvement, market penetration and product development; limited financial incentives; and increasing environmental degradation. Around the world, ecotourism has been hailed as a tool for economic development and environmental protection through funding conservation and scientific research, protecting fragile and pristine ecosystems, benefiting rural communities, promoting development in poor countries, enhancing ecological and cultural diversity, instilling environmental awareness and a social

conscience in the travel industry. In areas where ecotourism is developing, it has helped increase tourist spending and linkages, with multiplier effects on mainstream tourism. Local communities have started benefiting by working as rangers or camping staff and creating local businesses focusing on providing food, crafts and entertainment for tourists. Although tourism is an integral part of Kenyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national economy, it has contributed significantly to the degradation of the environment in popular wildlife protected areas, including the coastal marine

environment. This happens when visitors cram the national parks and reserves, adversely affecting the wildlife and their habitats through congestion, animal harassment, solid waste dumping, effluent discharge into rivers, overdevelopment of tourist facilities, animal harassment and park abuse. Mass tourism began destroying our parks in the 1980s and 1990s leading to degradation of the product. Consequently, Ecotourism Kenya, an association founded in 1996, addresses the impact of tourism as well as the consequences of degraded environments on tourists, who are becoming more aware of environmental quality whether on the beach, cultural tours or on wildlife safaris while promoting local cultures. These days, tourists are more inclined to shun overcrowded, polluted beaches and wildlife parks in favour of more natural settings. Visitors also want to ensure that their impact on indigenous peoples and cultures is minimal and that tourist expenditures benefit

that tourist expenditures benefit societies in the immediate neighbourhoods. Over 75 per cent of Kenyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wildlife is still outside the protected area network (national parks, national reserves and natural game sanctuaries). They occupy community trust lands, private land and ranches, group ranches and reserves. These areas are in the arid and semi arid savannah inhabited by pastoral communities. When parks and reserves in Kenya were created, they overlooked local people. In fact, the people did not benefit from tourism in spite of bordering some very popular tourist destinations. Of course, this led to a disgruntled neighbours who even began abetting wildlife poaching and tourist attacks, showing a bad image of Kenyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier tourist product, hence avoidance by potential visitors. Local communities, who are the owners and users of the vast environmental and natural resources, must be involved for ecotourism to be sustainable. Local people have the greatest knowledge of their ecosystems

Point of View

which when blended with modern techniques gives the best results. Locals have inalienable rights to their ancestral lands and the resources that they have conserved and used for generations. Most local communities co-existing with large volumes of wildlife have realized the potential in tourism. There are over 50 community-based conservation areas in Kenya now, possibly covering a larger total area than that of national parks and reserves. Communities are earning financial benefits from lucrative tourism enterprises located in the conservancies thus providing a reliable alternative source of income. Community conservancies are unspoilt wilderness areas offering low volume high-value products.

Point of View

The association provides guidance to the Kenyan tourism industry in implementing a voluntary certification scheme for tourist accommodation facilities. The scheme aims to provide tourism businesses with an opportunity to review and improve their operations towards ‘best practice’, which will lead to the overall improvement in socioeconomic and environmental performance.

In the future, I am optimistic that Kenya will overcome its’ challenges and

achieve sustainability, particularly in tourism.

Ecotourism Kenya was involved in the development of the Kenya Safari Codes and Coastal Codes, which aim at involving tourists in campaigns to conserve destinations in Kenya to ensure the country’s tourism sector remains sustainable. Our association tries to reach a large number of community-based organizations in areas with rich wildlife resources to promote ecotourism principles and conservation. The objective of this outreach is to reach, gather and share local knowledge useful and helpful towards integrating local people in tourism operations so as to uphold local values for nature conservation while locals gain profitably from tourism.

Teryyann Mutindi is the membership and marketing officer at Ecotourism Kenya. She is also the coordinator of one its five programs the Leadership and mentorship program.

Market Intelligence

Consumers Are Ready to Pay More for Social Responsibility A Global Survey on Corporate Social Responsibility, shows that 55 percent of global online consumers across 60 countries are willing to pay more for products and services from companies that are committed to positive social and environmental impact. The Asia-Pacific region leads with 64 percent followed by Latin America (63 percent) and Middle East/Africa (63 percent) while North America and Europe come in at 42 and 40 percent, respectively. The survey polled 30,000 consumers in 60 countries to understand how heavily consumers considered companies’ sustainable practices when making purchase decisions; which consumer segments are most supportive of ecological or other socially responsible efforts; and which social issues/causes are attracting the most concern. Key findings include: •Globally, more than half (52 percent) of respondents said they have purchased at least one product or service in the past six months from a socially responsible company. Four in 10 respondents in North America and Europe said that they have made a sustainable purchase in the past six months. •52 percent of global respondents said that their purchase decisions partly depended on packaging — i.e. they check labeling to ensure that the brand is committed to positive social and

decisions to a lesser degree in North America (32 percent) and Europe (36 percent). Retail sales data was also reviewed for a cross-section of consumable and nonconsumable categories across 20 brands in nine countries. These brands either included sustainability claims on packaging or actively promoted their sustainability actions through marketing. •A March 2014 year-over-year analysis showed an average annual sales increase of 2 percent for products with sustainability claims on the packaging and 5 percent for products that promoted sustainability actions through marketing programs. A review of 14 other brands without sustainability claims or marketing shows a sales rise of only 1 percent. The Natural Marketing Institute (NMI), conducted an online study across 9 countries on how global attitudes and behaviors about sustainability engagement are changing. Consumers were clustered into five segments to quantify what attracts them to sustainability actions. The study found that:

environmental impact. This impacted repeatedly from a company if they know that it is mindful of its environmental and social impact. •Millennials (age 21-34) constitute 51 percent of global respondents who will pay more for sustainable products and check packaging for sustainable labeling. Regionally in the developing world (Asia-Pacific, Middle East/Africa), there were wide gaps with millennial respondents in favor of sustainability actions on average three times more agreeable to sustainability actions than Generation X (age 35-49) respondents and 12 times more agreeable than Baby Boomer (age 50-64) respondents. The newest findings are in sync with last year's results, which had shown that 50 percent of global consumers are willing to pay more for goods and services from companies that have implemented programs to give back to society. They also align with recent findings from Cone — which found that 77 percent of Americans say sustainability factors into their food-purchasing decisions — and a recent Pew report about millennials being the most sustainability-conscious generation.

•Two-thirds of the 'sustainable mainstream' population (3 of 5 segments) will choose products from sustainable sources over conventional products. These consumers have personally changed their behavior to minimize their impact on global climate change; will buy as many eco-friendly products as they can and will buy Source: http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_vie ws/stakeholder_trends_insights/aarthi_rayapura/n ew_nielsen_study_says_consumers_are_read

Green Showcase Matava, Fiji

Green Showcase

Matava â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort is a small and intimate getaway designed to blend with its natural environment. The traditional thatched Fijian bures offer privacy, comfort and superb views over the ocean and Great Astrolabe barrier reef. The ability to partake in world class activities to experience the true beauty of Fiji and its people is the purpose for Matavaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existence. The traditional thatched Fijian bures nestled in the rainforest accommodate up to 28 guests.

Location

The striking Astrolabe Reef and the Kadavu group of islands have both been created by past volcanic activity and tectonic movements. The Matava Resort is right on the doorstep of this magnificent living organism, home to an abundance of marine life unequaled in Fiji. Divers and snorkellers can expect a diversity of fish life and corals of every conceivable colour and hue. The name is derived from a famous battle that took place on this land back in the 17th century.

Matava is tucked up in the jungle. For the guests this is part of the attraction though the environment has minimal infrastructure - some bure are high up with steps and steep paths.

Matava Resort is designed to blend in with its natural environment. It is the resort's policy to minimise the impact on the environment and to promote and support ecologically sound conservation measures in the community. Matava tries to do this in a number of ways:

People need a good degree of agility and fitness - the resort is not accessible to those with mobility problems. Paths are deliberately not lit at night as we are one of the few remaining places left on the planet without light pollution and it interferes with the local wildlife (fruit bats, owls etc).

Conservation, the Environment and our Carbon Footprint

Solar Power All lighting in the Oceanview accommodation and the main bure is solar powered. The resort office also derives all its power from solar energy.

Green Showcase

The resort does not operate any main generators, only a small emergency back-up generator for the office should the need arise. Lighting to the main bure and office is provided by solar power. Lighting to the bures is also all solar powered and run on 12V. The lights will not work during daylight hours as the system is charging. There is no 240V AC power in any of the bures at all. Solar Hot Water All accommodation is supplied with hot water derived from solar energy. Hot water should be available to guests 24hrs a day. Back up propane heaters deal with periods when the solar is not sufficient.

grounds. In addition, we supply local village farmers with seeds and then purchase the fruit and vegetables from them. Many fruit trees such as banana and papaya are scattered throught the grounds. Our bee hives are kept primarily for polination however yu will enjoy the wonderful honey 'by product' at breakfast. Bread is baked daily and the resort. Fish served have usually been caught that day by the resortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game fishing boat.

of 2003, it was one of only two locations on the South of Kadavu island that still had a water supply.

Land Management Areas of land around the resort are left uncultivated to encourage the growth of native wild flowers and ferns. Part of the resort foreshore is naturally a mangrove shoreline and has been left untouched. Mangroves prevent erosion and provide sanctuary to juvenile fish.

All resort building structures are built using locally grown pine or hardwoods planted for that purpose. They are then finished using traditional methods of thatching and palm weaving. Local wild hardwood trees are not used for lumber. All grey water is piped out to rubble drains for flowers and plants. Bures are designed and orientated to benefit from shade and sea breezes for cooling.

Organic Farming Meals at Matava are a unique blend of local and international cuisine. The menu takes advantage of local seasonal delicacies and the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fresh produce.

No insecticides or herbicides are used on the property. Any plants found around the resort are native to Kadavu and Fiji or already found on the island.

The need associated transportation carbon emissions is minimised by maintaining a large organic garden in the resort to import vegetables with

Water The primary reason for the location of Matava Resort is the abundance of natural spring water. During the drought

The water is naturally filtered through the limestone and is of excellent quality. Nevertheless, rainwater is still collected at certain locations and used to supply the organic garden and supplement the supply to some of the Oceanview bures. Buildings

Waste Management All rubbish is collected, separated and sorted. Food waste is fed to local pigs. We compost as much waste as possible for the organic farm. Plastic and glass bottles are recycled, as are aluminium

Green Showcase

cans (also take much less energy to cool and ship). Batteries and empty aerosol cans are impossible for us to dispose of and we request that guests take these with them to their home country where suitable methods of disposal are available. Staffing All resort staff are from local villages. The resort's annual expenditure is directed, wherever possible, to the local community. Obviously, some specialised equipment not manufactured on the island or in Fiji has to be imported However, if a can be obtained locally, Matava will do so. Marine Reserves Working in conjunction with neighboring villages, staff have established locally supported marine reserves to protect areas from any sort of fishing, shell collecting and reef walking. Each time there are divers there, Matava makes a contribution to the village. This agreement is of benefit to all parties. The guests are asked to make a small

voluntary contribution to these marine reserves on check-out. This money is used in their support and to promote marine conservation measures taken by the local villages. Education Each bure contains an information pack which includes advice on how guests can avoid damaging coral and marine life. The main bure has an extensive reference and information folder on coral reefs and their associated biology. Matava Resort is supporting the efforts of local community school Governors to have the Fiji national curriculum include a class on marine and terrestrial conservation and sustainable resource management. Diving There is have a 'look but don't touch' diving and snorkeling policy. Diving guests seen to be damaging marine life through uncontrolled buoyancy or willful neglect will not be allowed to continue diving. Guests touching live coral or marine life will be asked to refrain from doing so. The reef and surrounding

marine parks are there for everyone, therefore guests are asked to refrain from collecting any shells etc. Gamefishing The resort has a Tag & Release policy on all billfish other than an obvious World or Fiji National Record. Gamefish that would be National Records are often released unharmed. Matava Resort is a member of the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA)and The game boat's skipper is a member and supporter of The Billfish Foundation.

Matava Marine Reserve In conjunction with the neighboring village of Kadavu Koro, the community has established a marine reserve from the boundary of the Matava foreshore extending out to encompass beyond the finging reef to the deep water. This area is protected from any sort of fishing, shell collecting and reef walking. The sea grass is a nursery for all sorts of marine life which guests are welcome to snorkel over at sufficient tide. Hard coral polyps die immediately when

Green Showcase

touched, therefore guests are asked not to touch corals.

Activities Scuba Diving and Snorkeling The Great Astrolabe reef is the world’s fourth largest barrier reef and is Fiji’s largest living organism. It stretches for over 100km. It is rated as one of the world’s premier diving and snorkeling locations offering a great diversity and spectacle in coral structures and marine life. The reef has 5 passages that offer some of the best diving. Matava is in a privileged location within view of the Astrolabe Reef and with access to all 5 passages. Diving and snorkeling trips to the reef are conducted daily. Dive boats Matava could offer 2 boats to the guests: ‘Dive Me’ – a 33ft Aluminium dive boat built by Bluewater boats in Fiji. ‘Below Me’ – a 27ft Aluminium boat built by Bluewater boats in Fiji.

The Bamboo Spa Step lightly over the gateway to relaxation. The Pure Fiji selection of natural treatments lovingly made with uniquely Fijian plant extracts — heavenly massages and wraps, miraculous facials, and the most luxurious of spa pedicures and manicures – all in an eco friendly atmosphere.

of the village attends, offering encouragement to their friends, joining in the fun and providing for a real cultural exchange. . Kadavu Village School Guests are welcome to visit the Kadavu village school. Prior arrangements should be made first as a visit by guests during class time can be somewhat disruptive. Matava Resort guests involved in the teaching profession are often invited to meet the kids and take a class. If you wish to assist the kids with a donation of books, pencils or a cash donation, please see the manager on duty to make such arrangements.

Village Mekes The local village can sometimes perform a meke for guests of the resort upon request. A meke is a ceremony of traditional songs, music and dance often unique to a particular village. The performers may be school children or the village women’s group. Usually most

Other Activities Kadavu offers rainforests, mangroves, waterfalls, beaches, unique wildlife, unspoilt villages, and the opportunity to become involved in cultural activities unchanged for hundreds of years. Many of these are joint initiatives between the resort and local communities.

Only local materials used to build the bures

Solar panel

Gamefishing

Green Showcase

The Organic garden

Kayaking

Meke night in the village

Photos courtesy: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r44bq7nnyiusj87/AAD3LNN76kKfHuDugY--sJcfa?dl=0 Source: http://www.matava.com/

Green Business Directory

Khanfous Retreat Bni Meslem (Sahel Chamali) Nr. Asilah, Morocco Tel:+212 (0) 634 663 483 E-mail: info@khanfousretreat.com Web: http://www.khanfousretreat.com/ Set in an idyllic rural village on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, just twenty minutes south of the historic port town of Asilah, this rustic cottage allows you to get back to nature. The house has been skilfully crafted in the traditional style by talented locals and has been designed with guestsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; comfort in mind.

Footsteps Eco-Lodge South Kombo Region, Gunjur The Gambia Tel: 00220 7706830 Email: holidays@footstepsgambia.com Web: http://footstepsinthegambia.com/ Footsteps is positioned 1 kilometre back from golden sandy beaches next to the protected Kunyoong Forest park in the South of Gambia and offers authentic intelligently designed cool accommodation in relaxed and friendly surroundings. At the Lodge, as well as enjoying the area's serenity and natural beauty, one can also try some of the local activities which include local cooking, nature trails, bird-watching, beach fishing, cycling and photography.

SarinbuanaEco Lodge Mount Batukaru, Tabanan Bali, Indonesia Tel: +62 828-9700-6079 Email: info@baliecolodge.com Web: http://www.baliecolodge.com/ This Award winning Eco Lodge, offers you a chance to retreat into nature and be apart of the vibrant Balinese culture. A haven for nature lovers, located at 700m on the slopes of Mount Batukaru in central Bali, only 90 minutes from Kuta and Ubud.

Business Directory

Urbn Hotel 183 Jiaozhou Road (near Beijing West Road), Jing’an District Shanghai 200040, China Tel:+8621 5153 4600 E-mail: reservation@urbnhotels.com Web: http://www.urbnhotels.com/ URBN Hotel Shanghai is a boutique hotel, built by the Shanghai-based hotel chain URBN Hotels & Resorts whose mission is to develop and operate innovative, stylish hotels that combine locally sourced and recycled materials with modern architecture and design to create contemporary spaces inspired by China’s past, present and future.

El Nido Resorts 18/F BA Lepanto Building 8747 Paseo de Roxas Street, Salcedo Village 1226 Makati City, Philippines Tel: +63 2 902 5900 Email: holiday@elnidoresorts.com Web: http://www.elnidoresorts.com El Nido Resorts is a group of eco-resorts located in the El Nido-Taytay municipalities in northern Palawan, Philippines. The resorts offer genuine, local hospitality and unique and enriching experiences amidst the beautiful natural landscape.

The Frangipani Langkawi P.O. Box 138. Jalan Teluk Baru Pantai Tengah, Mukim Kedawang 07100 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia. Tel: (604) 952 0000 Email: rsvn@frangipanilangkawi.com Web: http://www.frangipanilangkawi.com/ The Frangipani Langkawi is a four-star beachside resort that opened in 2006 along one of Langkawi’s best beaches, Pantai Tengah. It is the first resort in Langkawi to implement Green practices to preserve the environment.

Dwarka Eco Beach Resort Ambelim Beach, Mattimol, Cola Beach Canacona 403524, India Tel: +91 9823377025 E-mail: dwarkagoa@gmail.com Web: http://dwarkagoa.com Ten beautiful, all natural, medieval thatched cottages, with contemporary interiors, are set around a fresh water lagoon with each overlooking the Arabian sea and the lagoon, and beneath the rustling of hundreds of palm trees, which are on different levels, on several acres of land.

Ace the Himalaya G.P.O Box 1280, A- One Business Complex, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: +977 1 4423719, 4423720 Email: info@acethehimalaya.com Web: http://www.acethehimalaya.com Ace the Himalaya specializes in hiking, trekking, mountaineering, rafting, wildlife safaris, mountain biking, cultural tours, and specialty itineraries (honeymoon, photography, festivals, voluntourism and student). Ace offers both, pre-planned itineraries and custom travel planning services.

Eco Koh Tao Crystal Dive Resort Padi Career Development Center Mae Haad, Koh Tao, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 77 456106 Email: info@crystaldive.com Web: http://www.ecokohtao.com Koh Tao, Thailand is at the forefront of scuba diving in South East Asia, with thousands of people visiting this island paradise every year to take advantage of its world famous dive sites. Eco Koh Tao specialises in preparing and instructing divers and dive professionals emphasising the eco-diving aspects of marine conservation.

Business Directory

Dar HI Quartier Ezzaouia Naftah 2240, Tunisia Tel:+216 76 432 779 E-mail: darhi@dar-hi.net Web: http://www.dar-hi.net Dar HI is a design eco-retreat or eco-lodge located in the historical centre of Naftah town, in the South of Tunisia. The Dar Hi resort is laid out like a village and features ochre-coloured structures on pilars, enclosed by an exterior wall.

Polwaththa Eco Lodges 69/1 Wepathana, Gomagoda 20184 Digana, Kandy District, Sri Lanka Tel: +94 721 751951 Email: info@polwaththa-ecolodges.com Web: http://www.polwaththa-ecolodges.com Polwaththa is a unique and authentic experience that offers the best of traditional Sri Lankan village culture. The eco-lodge is surrounded by coconut trees and a wide variety of other trees providing lush greenery round the year.

Our Native Village Hessarghatta P.O.Box 8802, Bangalore â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 560 088, India Tel: +91 80 41140909 Email: info@ournativevillage.com Web: http://www.ournativevillage.com Our Native Village is an eco-retreat for holistic health near Bangalore city in India. It was planned as a 100% eco-retreat, with commitment to sustainability in every facet of its acitivity. Its Responsible Tourism Policy encompasses environmental, social, cultural and economic aspects, rooted in a strong ethical foundation.

Business Directory

Loola Adventure Resort 50 Tanah Merah Ferry Road, Singapore 498833 Tel:+65 6764 6496 E-mail: info@loola.net Web: http://www.loola.net Loola Adventure Resort is a resort whose owners believe that a good business can and should benefit all other stakeholders too: the local community, the staff, and the clients. It is located in Loola, Bintan.

Great Ponsonby Art Hotel 30 Ponsonby Terrace, Ponsonby, 1011, New Zealand Tel: +64 9-376 5989 Email: info@greatpons.co.nz Web: http://www.greatpons.co.nz The Great Ponsonby Art Hotel is a small Bed & Breakfast hotel located in Ponsonby, a vibrant, safe, historic area of Auckland City. It has 12 rooms of varying sizes. The Great Ponsonby is the recipient of the Qualmark Enviro Gold Award accreditation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; New Zeaaland tourismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s official mark of quality.

Alila Hotels & Resorts 15 Scotts Road #04-10 Thong Teck building Singapore 228218 Tel: +65 67358300 Email: ask@alilahotels.com Web: http://www.alilahotels.com Alila Hotels & Resorts is a privately owned hotel management group headquartered in Singapore, with a strong element of Indonesian genes and a footprint across the Asia-Pacific region. Alila currently manages nine unique city hotels and resorts in India and Indonesia, and has another eleven properties under development in the AsiaPacific region.

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Ace the Himalaya

G.P.O Box 1280, A- One Business Complex, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: +977 1 4423719, 4423720 Email: info@acethehimalaya.com Web: http://www.acethehimalaya.com Ace the Himalaya specializes in hiking, trekking, mountaineering, rafting, wildlife safaris, mountain biking, cultural tours, and specialty itineraries (honeymoon, photography, festivals, voluntourism and student). Ace offers both, pre-planned itineraries and custom travel planning services.

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Eco Koh Tao

info@sostinternational.com

Crystal Dive Resort Padi Career Development Center Mae Haad, Koh Tao, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 77 456106 Email: info@crystaldive.com Web: http://www.ecokohtao.com

Koh Tao, Thailand is at the forefront of scuba diving in South East Asia, with thousands of people visiting this island paradise every year to take advantage of its world famous dive sites. Eco Koh Tao specialises in preparing and instructing divers and dive professionals emphasising the eco-diving aspects of marine conservation.

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