As the world's most precious resource, water scarcity poses a significant challenge to the sustainability of our planet's ecosystems, economies, and human health.

This article sheds more light on seven sustainable solutions to alleviate water scarcity and its far-reaching consequences.

In this article, we will examine the role of waste management infrastructure in preventing ocean pollution, examples of successful waste management programs, and the role of individuals and businesses in waste management.

Island nations face huge logistical challenges in terms of waste management. These challenges are often ignored to feed the picture-perfect image that we all want to keep in our minds when we hear the word “Maldives” or the names of other bucket list destinations.

This week’s blog will look at the waste management current challenges facing The Maldives and the solutions that are targeting the issue.

Back in 2018, we wrote about the closing of Maya Beach in Thailand in the wake of environmental degradation caused by the phenomenon of overtourism. This closure signified an on-going trend: that many popular destinations were at capacity for tourism.

Now, 2 years later, we’ve had the chance to interview with Manuel San Martin from the Pura Vida Diving Koh Phi Phi Center to gain insight into the progress that has been made on Koh Phi Phi Leh and how the new sustainable tourism plan will take shape once the bay re-opens “tentatively” in 2021.

Dive in and read more about Maya Bay’s progress towards recovery and what lies ahead for the island.

The hospitality industry is no stranger to competition. Sustainability is currently the hottest trend in the hospitality and tourism industries, backed up by findings that 75% of Millennials and Gen Zers prefer sustainable businesses and are willing to pay more for it.

Sustainability is here to stay. Not only will this future-proof your business, but also help you gain a competitive edge. This blog will look into how environmentally-minded practices within the hospitality industry have translated into savings, increased name recognition and awards.

Located on the Dutch island of Aruba, the Bucuti & Tara resort first emerged in 1987 as the result of a tourism boom that took hold of the island in the 1980’s. It was at this point that the owner and CEO, Ewald Biemans, already seeing how tourism was impacting the island he himself calls home, decided to focus on developing an environmental program as the core of Bucuti & Tara’s mission.

Now, after more than 20 years of development since Bucuti’s first Green Globe certification in 1999, the resort has earned every award imaginable for its sustainable operations and unique guest experiences. In 2018, Bucuti & Tara reached the milestone of becoming the first carbon neutral resort in the Caribbean, cementing its place as one of the top resorts in the world.

Find out more in our interview with Bucuti’s very own CEO, Ewald Biemans.

The Mandalika Project, a government-mandated project, looking to create a new and sustainable alternative destination to Bali, has inspired some exciting new technologies for eco-sustainability. These new developments, which are looking to be implemented in Bali as well, are intended to make Lombok a sustainable tourism paradise.

The quickly developing island of Lombok is slated to become a fantastic and environmentally sustainable eco-tourism destination through the guidelines put into place by the Indonesian government. This project promises to redefine eco-tourism to bring people closer to a healthier lifestyle and one that is in tune with the natural environment. 

When so many people around the world participate in oceanfront or coastal activities as a part of their vacation or every day lifestyle, the morality of understanding how it impacts our ecosystems should be at the forefront of our minds. The first question we should ask ourselves is this: what are the benefits of coastal tourism? And what can we do to ensure that there are more pros than cons?

In my last blog “Transitioning from a Tourism-Dependent Region to a Sustainable Paradise: The Caribbean Case Study pt. I” I talked about human pressures on the natural environment in the Caribbean. Even though these pressures are substantial, I think there is a way to turn the most unsustainable tourism-dependent region in the world into a sustainable tourism paradise. In this blog i’ll explain how this can come to be by using the example of Baja, Mexico. 

Did you know that the Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region on earth? Out of the top 25 countries that have more than 25% tourism contribution to GDP, 15 are located in the Caribbean. The Caribbean Sea is home to around ten percent of the world’s coral reefs, including the largest coral system in the Northern Hemisphere and the highest concentration of marine species in the Atlantic Ocean. With these factors taken into consideration, you can understand why the environment is so important for a thriving tourism sector.

After spending the last two years traveling, working and volunteering in various parts of Southeast Asia, Caitlin found herself fascinated by the explosion in tourism, the spread of Western influence and the impact tourism is having on the local community.

In part II of this blog piece, she will discuss her observations while carrying out fieldwork in Lombok to provide insights on the management and implementation of the Mandalika Project.

Read on to see how local communities are being affected and what prospects lie ahead for the island as it faces rapid development.

Look out Bali, Lombok, the popular tourist destination’s neighboring island, is slated to become Asia’s new tourism hotspot. The new Indonesian-Government mandated “Mandalika Project” will aim at building tourism infrastructure and bringing development to the island, but at what cost? This two-part blog series will look into how tourism has already changed the face of Indonesia as well as what can be expected in terms of future changes to the economic and community aspects of Lombok.

Over-tourism has claimed another victim: Maya Beach in Koh Phi Phi Leh, Thailand.

Following in the steps of Boracay Island in The Philippines, this beautiful destination known for its blue waters, white sand and limestone cliffs will be closed indefinitely while its biodiversity and ecosystems begin their process to recovery.

Take a look at this week’s blog to read about the impact that unsustainable tourism has had on the popular beach destination as well as lessons that we, as tourists, can take away from its closure to prepare ourselves for our next vacation.

Boracay island in The Philippines was once a paradise destination for local and international visitors, totaling an annual amount of 2 million tourist arrivals per year. Although, Boracay's closure in 2018 serves as a prime example of what can happen to a beautiful destination if tourism remains unsustainable and unregulated. Continue reading to find out more about the closure of Boracay has had a silver lining for locals and has generated hope for the future tourism prospects on the island. 

Communities and organisations around the world are making an effort to develop sustainable marine tourism to preserve their heritage. Fogo Island, along with the Shorefast Foundation, provides an ideal example for how we as residents, travellers, and entrepreneurs can support and develop sustainable tourism.

Read more about the efforts that are being made on Fogo Island to integrate tourism into the local community and culture.

This week on the blog we have one of our environmental consultants Molly Manwill writing about her experience setting up a Lang Tengah Turtle Watch project where hotel guests can sponsor a turtle nest! Read more to find out how conservation and tourism can go hand in hand!

We travel to new places for a lot of reasons: to meet new people, experience new cultures, and see some of the most beautiful sights in the world.

But have you ever wondered how your travels affect the local environment?