“It has taken nearly 20 years, but finally, there has been an agreement. Last month, United Nations member states agreed on the world’s first High Seas Treaty, which will enforce the pledge to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030 made at the UN Biodiversity Conference last December, a seismic shift towards safeguarding and regenerating our vital marine ecosystems.

“The treaty provides a legal framework to establish vast marine protected areas (MPAs) on the high seas – areas of the ocean that lie out of any single nation’s jurisdiction representing around two-thirds of the oceans – and equitably and sustainably share its genetic resources.

“Only 1.2% of these legally-defined ‘international waters’ are protected. That means that any marine life outside those areas is at risk from overfishing, shipping traffic, and exploration such as deep-sea mining, not to mention climate change.

“The importance of our oceans, which cover 70% of the Earth’s surface, can’t be underestimated: they produce half the oxygen we breathe, represent 95% of the Earth’s biosphere and are our largest carbon sink. The stark truth, however, is that much has already been disastrously overexploited.

“While the High Seas Treaty is a huge step in the right direction, what happens next – ratification by all signatory countries, followed by the hard work of implementation – is what matters. To secure healthy oceans for the next generation, we need a collaborative effort to protect our waters by governments, international bodies, industry and travellers.

“You can keep up with developments and updates with The High Seas Alliance’s Treaty Tracker, and The World Ocean Day website also features a range of resources, including a social media toolkit.”

For the  full report, visit https://travalyst.org/blog/why-the-high-seas-treaty-matters/?mc_cid=be70b7f30a&mc_eid=aa184fe7de

(Source: Travelyst)

Travalyst partners include Amadeus, Booking.com, Expedia Group, Google, Skyscanner, Travelport, Trip.com Group, Tripadvisor and Visa. They are part of a global network of changemakers, working together in a supportive, pre-competitive collaboration to create viable, visible sustainability solutions – and change the travel industry for good.

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Trees will be planted in mangrove forests located in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

The initiative announced at a tree-planting event organised by Cathay Pacific at the Taman Wisata Alam Mangrove, Angke Kapuk, Indonesia, will see the airline plant a tree for every ticket purchased on its website from Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia, through to 30 November 2022.

The latest campaign is part of Cathay Pacific’s sustainability efforts to support local communities, ecological restoration, and climate resilience. It started in 2021 when the airline launched its ‘1 Ticket, 1 Tree’ project in Thailand, one of Cathay Pacific’s key destinations in Southeast Asia. A similar initiative, Join For Trees, was rolled out earlier this year in Indonesia and the Philippines. The airline committed to planting a tree for every new member sign-up. Cathay Pacific planted more than 1,000 trees in the mangrove forests in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

With both these efforts combined, Cathay Pacific has committed to planting more than 1,700 trees in the mangrove forests in Thailand, Indonesia and soon the Philippines. Today, about 50 volunteers comprising Cathay Pacific employees, trade agents and other partners came together at Taman Wisata Alam Mangrove to plant saplings to kick start this year’s initiative. With ‘1 Ticket, 1 Tree’ covering more countries this year, Cathay Pacific hopes to plant significantly more saplings.

“This initiative underscores our commitment to our customers in Southeast Asia,” said Cathay Pacific’s regional manager for Southeast Asia and Southwest Pacific, Dominic Perret. “1 Ticket, 1 Tree is in line with our broader sustainability efforts, which include contributing purposefully to the communities we serve. We embarked on this tree-planting effort because many of our communities in Southeast Asia depend on mangroves for food, protection and income. As always, we strive to make a meaningful impact, both in service and sustainability.”                                  

For more information on 1 Ticket, 1 Tree, visit: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_SG/offers/collection/sustainability.html.

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This is noted in the summary of discussions for the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) High-Level Meeting in preparation for the 41^st ICAO Assembly later this year.

“The ICAO High-Level Meeting’s support of a long-term goal for states that is in line with the aviation sector’s net-zero by 2050 commitment is a step in the right direction. A formal agreement at the 41^st ICAO Assembly would underpin a common approach by states to decarbonise aviation. That’s critical for the aviation industry. Knowing that government policies will support the same goal and timeline globally will enable the sector, especially its suppliers, to make the needed investments to decarbonise,” said  IATA’s director general, Willie Walsh.

In October 2021, IATA member airlines committed to net zero emissions by 2050. The path to achieving this will involve a combination of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), new propulsion technology, infrastructure and operational efficiencies, and carbon offsets/carbon capture to fill any gaps.

“Net zero by 2050 will require a global transition for aviation to new fuels, technologies and operations. The significant investments to get there will need a solid policy foundation aligned with a global way forward. That is why it is so important for states to carry the momentum of the High-Level Meeting through to a formal agreement at the 41st ICAO Assembly in a few weeks,” said Walsh.

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The tracking and reporting process, led by the resort’s marine biologist, Lynn Jula Kessler, shows that populations of whale sharks and manta rays in the South Ari Atoll around Outrigger Maldives are stable or doing well. However, there is more concern about critically endangered sea turtles, which often get ensnared in fishing nets travelling between their nesting grounds in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

On whale sharks, Outrigger Maldives is cooperating with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme. Kessler and accompanying resort snorkelling guests collect data on whale shark sightings, noting any injuries, some of which are caused by collisions with boats.

This September, Kessler and Outrigger will join the #GentleToGiants initiative run by the whale shark research team. The campaign aims to secure commitments from tourism businesses to adhere to whale shark encounter guidelines.

“Many of the whale sharks spotted in South Ari Atoll are juvenile males five to eight metres in length,” says Kessler. “The waters around here are like a boys’ high school for whale sharks,” she says.

Kessler also sends information on manta ray sightings to the Manta Trust; an NGO founded to protect manta rays globally. Conservationists can track new pregnancies, injuries and overall population trends by sending underwater images of mantas to the trust. Manta rays are classified as endangered. They are protected by law in the Maldives, which has the world’s biggest recorded population of manta rays.

“No matter how often I encounter manta rays, they always amaze me,” says Kessler. “Besides being unbelievably graceful, they are also very curious and intelligent. They can often interact with snorkelers and divers, making the encounters even more magical.”

Kessler gives presentations twice a week to Outrigger guests on manta rays, whale sharks, turtles, marine life and coral reef preservation in the South Ari Atoll.

In July, she conducted coral planting, assisted by guests, adding frames of new coral beneath a jetty at the resort to encourage the breeding of young corals and fish species.

Marine conservation and awareness building are a key part of Outrigger Maldives resort operations, all of which align with Outrigger’s ZONE (OZONE), the company’s long-established global marine conservation and environmental care initiative.

ABOUT OUTRIGGER MALDIVES MAAFUSHIVARU RESORT

Discover a unique Island Experience in the Indian Ocean, offering small island charm with contemporary architecture and bespoke finishing touches. In the pristine South Ari Atoll, the 5-star Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort is a 25-minute seaplane journey from Male. It offers 81 villas in five distinct styles plus four restaurants, bars and cafes, a spa, a library lounge, a boutique, an airport lounge and transfers. The resort features a fully equipped PADI and SSI dive centre, island excursions, movie and documentary nights and vow renewals for couples. It has its own in-house marine biologist. She leads marine discovery trips and a coral regeneration project and gives presentations in the evening. More at Outrigger.com.

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Following the launch of carbon footprint indicators in March, CWT continues working with the carbon intelligence platform, Thrust Carbon, to improve its existing CO2 reporting capabilities.

Integrated into CWT’s business intelligence solution, customers now have access to new Carbon Emission Summary dashboards, providing a simple, all-in-one view of a company’s emissions using either DEFRA or Thrust Carbon methodology.

Available to all CWT customers globally, the new dashboards help companies understand their CO2 footprint resulting from corporate travel, improve their environmental impact, and effectively reach their responsible travel program goals. 

“We know that when it comes to CO2 data, greater accuracy and clarity supports greater accountability and better choices,” said CWT head of product management, travel management portfolio Charlie Sullivan.

“Companies pursuing climate initiatives seek more comprehensive greenhouse gas emission data and analytics. 79% of our global customers have told us as such in a recent survey. With that in mind, and in keeping with our longstanding commitment to providing clients with tools and services to build more responsible travel programs, these latest enhancements are designed to help integrate corporate sustainability goals into all of our customer’s travel programmes.” 

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The agreement confirms the airline will purchase  7 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) annually for five years starting from 2027.

The expected value for the agreement is USD192 million over the five-year period, including associated environmental benefits. The agreement is part of the Oneworld alliance’s plan to purchase up to 200 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel annually from Gevo for its member airlines.

Finnair uses an extensive toolkit to achieve emission reductions – using sustainable aviation fuels,  reducing aircraft weight, developing fuel-efficient flight methods, offsetting, and engaging customers in reducing aviation emissions. Finnair is also actively exploring the possibilities of introducing new technologies into its operations.

“Finnair has ambitious emissions reduction targets: by the end of 2025, we intend to halve the net emissions from 2019 and achieve carbon neutrality by the end of 2045. SAF plays an important role in reaching these targets,” says Finnair’s SVP for sustainability at Eveliina Huurre.

Gevo’s sustainable aviation fuel is produced using inedible corn products that are processed to create ethanol that is then converted into sustainable aviation fuel. The fuel is used with the book and claim principle on Finnair’s flights from Los Angeles.

Finnair has also made a purchase agreement with Aemetis for 17.5 million gallons of blended sustainable aviation fuel delivered during 2025-2032. Finnair has earlier partnered with Neste in Finland to increase the use of SAF and hence reduce carbon emissions.

Meanwhile, the airline announced Thursday that all flights at Helsinki Airport depart from one single terminal, as T1 and T2 become part of the airport’s history following a massive remake of the terminal facilities. The new spacious arrival and departure halls in the brand-new single terminal opened to passengers earlier this week, promising to make flight connections smoother.

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The disruptions have widened the ‘capability’ gaps between small and big players favouring the wealthy operators. They had the resources to wait out the Covid-19 disaster. But It leaves local communities needing meaningful partnerships to rise up the agenda and reclaim the attention of Phuket’s visitors.

Baan Bang Thao – Cherng Talay Community in Phuket is one example of community-based tourism practices that manage sustainability within their community to create understanding and connections between visitors and local village culture.

Most Baan Bang Thao – Cherng Talay residents are Muslim, and their main activities are agriculture, farming, and fishing. The community has been established as a community enterprise for almost 10 years to promote local wisdom, agricultural and processed products made with raw materials from the village.

Today, the community is strongly committed to its original way of life and is ready to show visitors authentic experiences, culture, and agricultural diversity.

Baan Bang Thao Cherng Talay Community Based Tourism head Sonthaya Kongthip explains: “We welcome approximately 20 visitors a day, or sometimes up to 50 for field study groups. That’s the maximum capacity that we can serve. As a community enterprise, we manage different groups of activities that work collaboratively such as food, farms, and transport groups to improve the community’s life, based on the sustainability concept.”

He added: “Phuket is lucky that the government has given us a chance to open up our island destination to international visitors gradually. During the pandemic, we’ve never imagined that the whole island would be closed to visitors. However, it allows us to reflect on how sustainability is important to our community and which direction we should take in the new normal era.

“Government, business, and communities will need to work closely together toward the sustainability in tourism. Local authorities are the ones who provide guidelines and supervise, while hotels send visitors to us. We, as a community, are the one who designs experiences and allows visitors to learn about local identity and local way of life. Working with different parties, the community will need to understand what to offer visitors and adjust our standards to meet businesses’ requirements, for example, safety and hygiene standards in the new or next normal era.”

Baan Bang Thao – Cherng Talay Community offers choices of community-based tourism activities where visitors can experience villagers’ way of life and authentic cultural exchange. Simultaneously, they motivate and support villagers to keep their community strong and their homeland fertile.

Half-day Tour Sampler

In the late morning, local transport will pick up visitors from the village entrance near the Bukarom Mosque, one of the oldest and largest mosques on the island. After a short ride along a small alley surrounded by tiny houses, orchards, and rubber plantations, visitors will reach ‘Uncle’s Lab’ home, where visitors are welcomed by a local guide who will introduce the background of Baan Bang Thao – Cherng Talay Community.

Organically grown fruits, fresh from the orchards, such as Rambutans, Pineapples, and Durians or seasonal fruits and goat milk locally produced daily by the villagers, are introduced for visitors and tasting. Also, while enjoying the taste of local fruits, visitors will get to observe about rubber tapping demonstration and get a chance to try it yourself.

The next stop is a goat farm, where visitors can learn about different breeds of goats, feed a baby goat, and experience how to milk a goat step by step.

After the goat farm, visitors head to a local restaurant for lunch on Bang Thao beach. But just before they reach the restaurant, visitors can quickly stop at a local fish stand and select some fresh fish caught by local fishermen for the restaurant to serve on the lunch menu.

Before lunch starts, visitors will also learn how to cook Khao Yum or Phuket’s style mixed herbs rice salad and taste this authentic dish on your own.

After lunch, visitors join a DIY class to make organic soap and learn about other local products made by the community’s members.

Besides these activities, Baan Bang Thao – Cherng Talay Community offers other options for recreational activities such as a boat trip to Koh Wae or Koh Waew, a small island full of mineral sones that glitter in the sunlight or a diving trip exploring corals reefs along Phuket’s coastline.

Tour prices start from THB800, depending on the selection of activities.

For more information about these activities, visit https://www.facebook.com/Bangtaotravel/ or contact Sonthaya Kongthip, Head of Baan Bang Thao – Cherng Talay Community Based Tourism, at Tel. 062 228 7896.

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Outrigger’s Asia Pacific resorts, including Fiji, Thailand, Mauritius, Maldives and Hawaii, are hosting multiple events ranging from coral planting to fish-house making to beach and marine cleanups and mangrove tree planting. For guests less willing to take the plunge, there will be in-room videos, kids’ club activities and presentations on manta rays, whale sharks, turtles and coral reef conservation.

‘Ocean’s Eleven’ is an extension of Outrigger’s ZONE (OZONE), the company’s global conservation initiative that provides enriching experiences for Outrigger guests, hosts and local communities with an emphasis on healthy oceans and coral reefs.

Examples of the marine conservation campaign by Outrigger include:

Phuket – following beach cleaning on 8 June by the hosts of Outrigger Surin Beach Resort and Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort, the team joined mangrove tree planting at Mai Khao Beach in Phuket on 13 June.

Koh Samui – the Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort staff collaborated with Trash Heroes Koh Samui in its weekly cleanup efforts around the island’s beaches; the staff also assisted the Bantai Crab Bank in their catch and release programme, which releases baby crabs back into the ocean.

Maldives – led by Outrigger Maafushivaru Maldives Resort in-house marine biologist Lynn Kessler, Outrigger will collect data on manta rays and whale sharks for local conservation NGOs; she is also working with ORP a sea turtle protection group that also carries out underwater cleanups of man-made debris; Ms Kessler will be giving marine biology presentations twice a week for guests. And to raise awareness — and for fun – Outrigger is offering guests a Blue Ocean Martini, made of vodka, martini and Blue Curacao.

Mauritius – beach cleaning at Outrigger Mauritius with local school children in August when a mobile marine educational centre called Bis Lamer will be present at the resort throughout the month. On 8 June, there were ocean awareness trips on a glass-bottom boat for kids who also joined in World Ocean Day ‘edutainment’ games on shore.

Fiji – there will be a round-the-island beach cleanup on 16 June at Castaway Island, Fiji and fish house making on 23 June.

Hawaii – hosts and guests at Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort and Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort participated in a Sustainable Coastlines Festival Cleanup, which took place on 18 June. It will also hold its 6th Annual OZONE Day at Waikiki Aquarium, with many educational activities for families, on 25 June.

These are just a highlight of the activities. Others will be added between mid-June and the end of August.

“As owners and operators of beach resorts from Mauritius to Hawaii, Outrigger has a front-row seat to the link between healthy oceans and healthy communities,” said Monica Salter, Outrigger’s VP of global communications and social responsibility.

‘The goal for ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ – 11 weeks of marine action and awareness-raising – is to inspire both guests and hosts to take individual action towards a sustainable lifestyle. This will hopefully make a positive impact on the planet beyond our almost three-month intensive period of action,” she said.

Further information: www.Outrigger.com/sustainablesummer

ABOUT OUTRIGGER HOSPITALITY GROUP

For nearly 75 years, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts has charted a journey of discovery – expanding from Hawaii to premier resort destinations including Fiji, Mauritius, Thailand and the Maldives. The privately-held hospitality company invites guests to ‘Escape Ordinary’ with authentic Signature Experiences and the Outrigger DISCOVERY loyalty program. Outrigger’s multi-branded portfolio includes Outrigger® Resorts, OHANA Hotels by Outrigger®, Hawaii Vacation Condos by Outrigger®, Kapalua Villas Maui and Honua Kai Resort & Spa Maui while also managing select properties from top international hotel brands including Embassy Suites by Hilton®, Best Western® and Hilton Grand Vacations®. Find out more at Outrigger.com or visit @OutriggerResorts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Approximately 75% of investors surveyed by JLL identified environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors as necessary when deploying capital, despite Asia Pacific’s hotel sector lagging behind other regions in the adoption of sustainability practices.

According to JLL analysis, investors and operators will prioritize ESG aspects of hotel investment to help secure funding for asset purchases or redevelopment. Given that most global investors are headquartered in Europe and the United States, where they face strict requirements from institutions and governments, Asia Pacific’s hotel sector is not immune from scrutiny. It will require more defined ESG strategies to meet both investor and consumer demands.

“The hotel industry in the Asia Pacific does lag other regions when benchmarked on sustainability factors and practices. Mounting pressure from shareholders and governments is compounded by the fact that many investors have limited access to sustainability-linked loan facilities in the Asia Pacific. However, we do see opportunities for new developments built by local high net worth individuals and local corporates and developers to tap global investors for green funding options,” says JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group senior managing director, head of investment sales, Asia Pacific Nihat Ercan.

Globally, the hotel sector accounts for 1% of global carbon emissions, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The industry is also the biggest consumer of energy and water among all real estate asset classes. However, emissions vary by geography, with the Asia Pacific seen to be lagging behind North America and Europe, producing more emissions per occupied room – due primarily to climate and air conditioning usage – than other regions.

The challenge in the Asia Pacific and other regions of the world will be based on financing for new development and retrofitting existing hotels to make them net-zero. However, JLL analysis suggests that any meaningful movement towards a longer-term ESG-based transition will require a partnership between investors and operators to meet end-user expectations.

Furthermore, the pandemic has changed consumer expectations and elevated awareness of ESG principles within the international hotel sector. More than 80% of global travellers plan to stay at a sustainable hotel at least once in the next year, according to Bookings.com

“To meet changing consumer demands, hotel owners and operators in Asia Pacific will be forced to adapt business strategies to include clear ESG factors and goals. Hotel operators are an important sale vector to drive technical standards, especially as they are on the forefront and in direct contact with clients and accounts who are increasingly sensitive to sustainability,” says JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group managing director and head of the hotel advisory and asset management the Asia Pacific, Xander Nijnens.

While hotel investors in the Asia Pacific are behind other parts of the world regarding sustainability, hotel operators are leading the change in the sustainability journey regionally, having implemented several measures to monitor energy and water consumption. Approximately 50% of polled hotel operators identified operational aspects of hotel management and maintenance as their key sustainability priority.

JLL surveyed approximately 168 clients (investors and operators) across the Asia Pacific in April for this report. Learn more here.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm specialising in real estate and investment management.

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The sculptures were anchored off the coast of Pulau Pasir following a ceremony on 22 May. Commissioned by the National Art Gallery’s Seabound Initiative the gigantic sculptures will serve as artificial reefs to support the recovery of marine life while providing a unique underwater attraction for scuba divers.

Tourism leaders are positioning Langkawi as a water sports hub focusing mainly on ASEAN’s scuba divers and clubs through social media campaigns. If successful, underwater sculptures could become welcome additions adding variety to Langkawi’s dive sites. It’s a development that may encourage scuba dive agencies to spice their itineraries with dives to sunken art objects.

Scuba diving is the standout attraction for tourists visiting Pulau Payar Marine Park, a cluster of islands just a short transfer by ferry or tour boat from Kuah, Langkawi’s main town and the entry point for ferries from the mainland and Penang. The Pulau Payar islands reopen for divers this month after a two-year hiatus following the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.

Deals on scuba lessons

For those new to scuba diving, Langkawi’s dive tour companies offer instructions from pool to sea through internationally recognised certification programmes.

In June, Ninety Nine Islands Diver’s Facebook page introduces scuba diving that will get you from the swimming pool to Langkawi’s exciting underwater world through recognised certification courses.

To attract beginners keen to explore the diving experience, the company offers instruction under the PADI certification for MYR999 down from MYR1699.

PADI instructors take you through the lessons in three days to graduate with a PADI Open Water Diver certification, the most widely-recognised scuba qualification worldwide.

For more details, visit Ninety Nine Islands Diver’s Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/ninetynineislandsdiver

Langkawi’s top six spots for scuba diving

Travel Triangle’s diving tips and blog identify the six best scuba diving spots in Langkawi.

House Reef Dive Site
This is a reef site on Pulau Payar Island at a depth from 15 to 18 metres and a visibility of 10 to 20 metres.

Coral Garden Dive Site
The dive site is located near the southern part of Payar Island, with an average depth of about 15 metres and a visibility of 10 meters.

Grouper Farm Dive Site
The popular dive site is located right beside Coral Garden, near the southern end of Payar Island. The reef is completely covered with hard corals and can be explored to a depth of 15 metres.

Kaca Sunken Boat Wrecks Dive Site
A small island, Kaca located east of Payar offers one of the most popular diving sites where divers can explore sunken wrecks, mostly fishing boats.

Lembu Rocks Dive Site
A short seven-minute boat trip from the Marine Park Beach area, the dive site is recommended for diving beginners.

Pulau Segantang Dive Site
Segantang Island is located 12 km west of Payar Island, a 20-minute boat trip from Marine Park Beach and is recommended only for experienced divers looking for larger fish that thrive in deeper waters.

For full details visit https://traveltriangle.com/blog/scuba-diving-in-langkawi/

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