Conscious travel, sustainable travel, green travel, promadic travel, eco-friendly travel – these are some of the different terms used to describe one overarching concept, which is that the travel industry can have a positive impact on local environments and communities.
To keep things as clear as the Maldivian water we love so much, we’ll stick to ‘conscious travel’. It’s the term that resonates the most with us because it conjures images of people treading carefully and being aware of the impact their travel decisions have on destinations and the people who inhabit them (as opposed to exclusively environmentally aware).
All around the world there are examples of properties, destinations and tourism companies that not only allow travellers to holiday consciously, but who overtly encourage the practice.
From companies that allow travellers to offset the carbon footprint of their air travel, to tour operators who create itineraries that ensure travellers have unforgettable grassroots experiences and that all funds go directly to local communities, to resorts that urge guests to participate in sustainable operations, conscious travel is more than simply marketing lingo.
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT
Tourism is the largest economic contributor in the Maldives, and a huge proportion of the workforce relies on the industry for their income. From hosts at the resorts, to fishermen who provide fresh produce to the properties, to the dozens of speedboat and seaplane drivers (and everyone in between), most employment opportunities in the country are a result of a thriving travel industry.
At the same time, climate change is an existential threat to the small coral islands that constitute the Maldives. More than 80 per cent of the land area is less than a metre above sea level, which means that if sea levels rise even one metre, the entire country will be underwater.
Historically, there has been a connection between the global travel industry and climate change. We all know the tropes: the high carbon footprint of air travel, the crazy volume of waste produced by hotels, the lack of concern from travellers about local people or places.
That’s where conscious travel comes in – it’s a movement towards rectifying these wrongs and allowing people to explore the world in a more positive fashion. In keeping with the global trajectory, conscious travel is alive and well in the Maldives. There are plenty of operators doing amazing things for the local ecosystem, economy, and communities, which we’re hoping will allow tourism to find a much-desired balance between the livelihood of Maldivian citizens and the future of their beautiful home.
1. Soneva
To call Soneva sustainable would be an understatement. Since the creation of their first resort in the Maldives in 1995, sustainability has been their modus operandi, and they’ve been refining the concept ever since.
Inspired by a deep-seated conviction that luxury isn’t always synonymous with gold and marble, the iconic Soneva brand instead proves that opulence can be au naturel. The dynamic husband-and-wife duo behind Soneva, Sonu and Eva Shivdasani, believe that to live with sand underfoot, to bathe outdoors beneath a canopy of lush vegetation, and to dine under starry skies is what true luxury is all about.
During the construction of their flagship resort, Soneva Fushi, they refused to use any rainforest or unsustainable wood, and instead constructed the world’s first castaway chic resort from environmentally-friendly materials like bamboo, coconut and recycled wood instead. In doing so, they birthed the back-to-nature, barefoot luxury trend that has gained popularity globally over the last two decades.
In 2016, Soneva again pioneered the travel industry by publishing the first ever Total Impact Assessment tool to measure the impact of the company’s operations in five categories: natural capital; human capital; social capital; economic capital; and tax.
In addition to their annual sustainability reports, this innovative tool allows the company to review the direct effect their resorts are having on the environment, as well as the indirect impact of their supply chain and air travel for guests; in turn positioning them to make better decisions, efficiently allocate resources and influence the business decisions of suppliers.
From the smiling team of Mr. and Ms. Friday butlers, to the resorts’ sommeliers, gardeners and chefs, the committed and passionate hosts that make up Soneva are the real heroes of the company’s sustainability initiatives. These hard-working individuals are known affectionally as the Soneva Changemakers.
Speak to any of the Soneva Changemakers and they’ll tell you that they live and breathe by the brand’s SLOW LIFE acronym, which encapsulates the ideologies of Sustainable, Local, Organic, Wellness, Learning, Inspiring, Fun, Experiences.
Once again throwing the common perception of ‘luxury’ into question, Soneva’s SLOW LIFE philosophy places emphasis on unique and special experiences that leave an eternal imprint on guests’ hearts. According to the Soneva team, luxury is about experiences outside the norm. It’s about giving guests treasured moments with their loved ones in evocative settings that highlight the beauty of nature.
Rather than sit in a sterile, air-conditioned restaurant to enjoy food prepared by an award-winning chef, why not let a deserted sandbank at sunset be the venue? Instead of turning the TV on, why not watch a movie beneath balmy, moonlit skies at Cinema Paradiso?
Guests can choose from a mind-blowing list of once-in-a-lifetime experiences that are designed to immerse them in the extravagance of nature, including a sunset dolphin cruise, snorkelling with mantas, stargazing at Soneva Jani’s overwater Observatory, embarking on a guided aquatic adventure, or catching an exclusive wave with the world’s first eco-surfing program.
2. Patina
Affectionately known as Capella’s ‘little sister’, Patina Maldives is the inaugural flagship resort of a new lifestyle brand by the iconic hotel group. Designed with socially-conscious travellers in mind – those who make deliberate choices to ensure they have a positive impact on people and place – it emphasises sustainable operations.
Here you will find a resort that integrates its environmental strategies into the guest experience. Patina is serious about its pledge to give back; uses sustainable materials; educates its guests about the local social and natural environments and how they can help to preserve them; reduces its carbon footprint wherever possible; and honours the slow food movement.
The resort’s principal goal is to nurture nearby ecosystems and empower the local community. One percent of its gross operating profits is put towards funding charitable initiatives in the area, with a focus on supporting Maldivian women and children, and those communities most heavily impacted by global climate change.
The brand’s essence is further finessed by the concepts of perpetuality and individuality, which are delivered through a compilation of unique experiences that both cultivate an emotional response from guests and allow them to tread lightly.
3. Kudadoo
Visit Kudadoo’s website and you’ll quickly learn that caring for the environment is part of the brand’s core values. Environmental sustainability as well as social responsibility are at the forefront of everything they do, and this is heightened by their awareness that they exist within a fragile environment.
Visit the resort and you’ll be blown away by the initiatives in play. From solar cells that power the resort in its entirety and sustainable building material to environmentally conscious activities, amenities, and food, they aim to minimise their impact on the environment across every touchpoint.
Offering discerning guests a guilt-free escape, Kudadoo provides a fabulously modern take on traditional luxury escapism with thought for the environment and sustainability at the heart of every aspect of the island.
A minimalistic approach, with natural materials, helps to provide Kudadoo with its unique aesthetic feel and charisma. Across the island, sustainably sourced cedar wood is widely used, forming the primary material for the exteriors of Kudadoo’s buildings, many of which have been shaped to allow a natural breeze to flow, providing cool interiors, ideal for escaping the hot midday sun.
The interiors are just as impressive, with coconut, bamboo, and palm, all from sustainable sources providing a warm natural feel to both communal areas and the private residences on the island.
The island has an intimate understanding of the importance of preserving and protecting nature for the future and puts a big emphasis on helping local communities as well. Kudadoo continues to strive to exist in harmony with nature and actively raise awareness to inspire others to follow suit.
4. Six Senses Laamu
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas operate with the philosophies of wellness and sustainability at their core. These values permeate all areas of resort operations and beyond, including local community outreach programs.
An extensive list of corporate sustainability guidelines keeps Six Senses Laamu on target to optimise energy efficiency, reduce water consumption, limit chemical usage, increase garden and food production, source locally, recycle materials, treat people equitably, give back to local communities and protect ecosystems.
The resort lives by the motto: “By being responsible today, we ensure that the unique environments, cultures, and experiences we share with our guests will be experienced for generations to come. We not only respect our guests and hosts, but also the local communities and ecosystems around us too.”
We encourage guests of this nature-loving haven to embark on a Sustainability Tour to see innovation and experimentation in action at the resort’s Earth Lab, their hub for self-sufficiency and zero waste, which is designed to produce more produce onsite and reduce emissions from long-distance transport.
Another impressive initiative by Six Senses Laamu is the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI), which is made up of resort marine biologists and three partners, the Manta Trust, Blue Marine Foundation, and the Olive Ridley Project. The MUI team pursues marine conservation goals, through research, guest education and community outreach, with the overarching aim of protecting Laamu’s natural resources. This approach of collaboration and knowledge sharing, funded by the resort’s Sustainability Fund, has continuously proven successful in not only driving change and inspiring others.
….and don’t forget, for any advice or quotes on our Maldives properties outside of those featured above, you can always GET IN TOUCH. We will tailor the quote to your exact needs.
