Marine Conservation

Coco Collection
www.cococollection.com

Book a holiday at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, a luxury resort in the Maldives, and learn about marine life conservation at a turtle rescue centre. Since 2017, the resort has collaborated with UK-based charity Olive Ridley Project (ORP) to set up the first veterinarian-led turtle rescue centre in the Maldives – the Marine Turtle Rescue Centre. Here, veterinarians and volunteers care for and rehabilitate injured turtles with the aim of releasing them back into the ocean. Guests can make direct donations to ORP or purchase turtle toys at the hotel, for which proceeds will go towards the rescue centre. Alternatively, resort guests can also participate in a photo-ID programme in which they are encouraged to take a good-quality photograph of turtles and submit to ORP.

Community-led Travel

GOOD Travel
www.good-travel.org

Pledging sustainable and responsible tourism, there are hospitality businesses that operate on ethical and community-based approaches, with the aim of local development as well as improving the livelihoods of locals. GOOD Travel is one such company. Founded by four women, it aims to inspire travellers and tourism businesses to make a positive impact on the local community, environment and economy. Trips organised by the company included a community-led tour to Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where guests saw up close the work of park wardens who risk their lives daily to protect mountain gorillas. Moving forward, in 2020, the company will bring community-conscious mother-and-daughter travellers to Peru to immerse in Peruvian culture, as well as get them involved in work with a local non-profit organisation (Peruvian Hearts) dedicated to educating and empowering girls there. Every aspect of the trip involves working with sustainable tour operators such as the Llama Pack Project and the Chocomuseo chocolate workshops.