subject: Eco-friendly Maldives Hotel Awarded Green Globe Certification [print this page] Travellers planning luxury Maldives holidays may have thought that luxury and eco-tourism could not co-exist, however some first class Maldives hotels and resorts are proving that they can provide it all. Green Globe, the global certification body for the sustainable tourism, announced on 5th March 2012 that the luxury Maldives hotel Anantara Veli Resort & Spa has been awarded certification in recognition of its environmental responsibility efforts.
We are pleased to award the Anantara Veli Resort & Spa Maldives with Green Globe Certification. Our accredited third-party auditor found that the resort achieved 77 percent compliance against our standard and far exceeded the required pass scores for most of the criteria... The Anantara Veli is dedicated to conserving and protecting the marine life existing within its locality stated Guido Bauer Green Globe Certification CEO.
Sustainable tourism is an issue close to heart of all Maldivians with the island chain facing the grave realisation that they sit on the frontline of climate change, as former president Mohamed Nasheed once phrased it. As a result, officials are tasked with striking a balance between a booming tourism industry which accounts for 30 per cent of its $2.1 billion economy and the fact that the same industry is also a major contributor to the countrys CO2 emissions.
As much as eighty per cent of the island chains land mass rests just a metre above average sea level. Reports predict that the steady rise in the sea level over the years as a result of global warming means that by the year 2100 most of the 200 inhabited islands in the Maldives will have to be abandoned.
Yet another challenge facing the tourism industry is the fact that one of the most spectacular attractions for travellers booking holidays in Maldives; the beautiful coral reefs and the diverse marine ecosystems they house, are highly sensitive to human impact and climate change with rising temperatures leading to coral bleaching.
The Anantara Veli Resort & Spa has proven its dedication to combating these issues with a commitment to sustainable tourism. Resident marine biologists conduct weekly marine life seminars in addition to providing material on energy and water conservation, waste management and the cultural norms that should be observed when interacting with the local community. Anantara has also shown a commitment to the preservation of the nations marine eco system with a coral nursery for the protection and conservation of the nearby reefs.
In addition to the Anantara Veli, the two other Maldives hotels under the Anantara brand, the Anantara Dhigu and Naladhu Madives have also been certified by Green Globe, making Anantara the only operator in Maldives to offer a luxury Maldives holiday experience with an eco-conscious distinction across all its hotels. Anantaras General Manager Jeffrey Seward stated, On no other location on Earth can the impact of climate change be seen so dramatically and, therefore, we are immensely proud to be the first resort operator in the Maldives to have all our resorts Green Globe Certified.
