Atlantica - 01.04.2006, Side 30

28 AT L A N T I CA
on the fly
Once upon a time, ecotourism was synonymous
with paying to rough it. But in today’s green resorts,
you no longer need to forego luxury and pampering
to take an eco-friendly holiday. The ever-growing
phenom has been evolving since the late 1980s,
but mushroomed in popularity in 2002 – the United
Nations’ “International Year of Ecotourism”. Though
growing more commercialized, the new ecotourism
still revolves loosely around three basic principles:
respect the cultures and societies you visit, leave as
small an environmental footprint as possible, and
ensure that the money you spend remains in the
community.
Try one of the following for your next guilt-free
vacation:
DON DAENG ISLAND, LAOS PDR
Plaudits to the government of Laos PDR, which has
started seeing the potential merits of encouraging
eco-tourism within its borders. The national tourism
administration’s website has numerous listings
of places to stay in this South-East Asian country
sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam,
including the peaceful Don Daeng Island inside
the Vat Phou Conservation Area, where your
accommodation, albeit fairly bare bones, is operated
entirely by the villagers and involves sleeping either
in the community lodge or homestays.
www.ecotourismlaos.com/activities/dondaengisland
CHUMBE ISLAND CORAL PARK, ZANZIBAR,
TANZANIA
Stay at this nature reserve in Zanzibar and go
snorkeling on a protected reef, scuba diving, or
visit a forest reserve. Stay in “eco-bungalows” which
get their own water from the rain and are heated
using solar energy. Even the hand soap is organic
and provided by a local women’s co-operative.
www.chumbeisland.com
MAHO BAY, ST. JOHN, US VIRGIN ISLANDS
Here at one of the first eco-friendly resorts, stay in
dwellings constructed almost entirely of recycled
materials and powered by the sun and wind. And
don’t forget there’s your own postcard perfect beach
and countless water activities. Bliss... www.maho.org
TURTLE ISLAND RESORTS, FIJI
Popular with honeymooners (probably because it
was awarded world’s best secluded honeymoon
location in Modern Bride magazine), Turtle Island
employs local islanders and contributes to projects
in the nearby Yasawa Islands like medical clinics and
building schools. www.turtlefiji.com
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
If beaches aren’t your thing, try a desert getaway near
Dubai. The Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa is a secluded
resort which offers everything from spa treatments to
camel treks. It has won many environmental awards,
although all this environmental luxury comes with a
hefty price tag of at least USD 1,300 per night.
www.al-maha.com
Of course, chances are you’re going to have to
take a gas-guzzling airplane to your eco-friendly
destination. Visit www.climatecare.org to calculate
the carbon dioxide emissions from your journey and
offset these emissions by contributing to sustainable
energy and reforestation projects. ER a
GREEN SHEETS
Top Places for Maximum Relaxation and Minimum Impact.
PHOTO BY PÁLL STEFÁNSSON
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