Tourexpi
Padangbai
is a small port town on the east coast of Bali, Indonesia, where
tourism-related activities are on the rise. On the other side of the world, the
coastal resort town of Bávaro in the Dominican Republic is already an
established destination, with its region of Punta Cana welcoming over four
million tourists every year. The two coastal communities have one resource in
common: a beautiful coral reef, which, like all reefs, is one of the most
biodiverse and productive ecosystems on the planet.
However,
in both geographical locations, boat moorings and improper anchoring practices
damage coral reefs and seagrass beds, contributing to the destruction of
important habitats. Coral reef degradation is also a result of overfishing and
pollution, which causes disruptions in the delicate balance of the underwater
ecosystem. Additionally, as water temperatures increase, so does the phenomenon
of coral bleaching. This is caused by the loss of algae, which is the coral’s
major food source. Algae also gives the coral its colour and stores
environmentally unfriendly carbon dioxide.
In
the Dominican Republic, the TUI Care Foundation is working in partnership with
the Bávaro Reef Ecological Foundation (Fundación Ecológica Los Arrecifes de
Bávaro). The programme contributes to the protection of a total of over 560
hectares of seascapes, which will be zoned and demarcated through five TUI Care
Foundation buoys. Awareness workshops and coral gardening help to train local
beach workers and fishermen to protect the area. Up to 30 local organisations
will be engaged in Bávaro as well as the neighbouring region Cabeza de Toro to
build understanding and capacity and to respond to local conservation needs.
The programme relies on the creation of a sustainable tourism product, the
Bávaro Snorkel Lover experience, which will engage up to 30,000 tourists
through a combination of coral gardening, awareness and snorkelling. A local
ranger team will patrol the beaches to protect against turtle poaching, and a
coral nursery programme helps to restore the local sea urchin population.
Meanwhile
TUI Sea the Change Bali, in partnership with Livingseas Foundation, is already
showing strong results. During the initial stage between 2021 and 2023, almost
300 square metres of coral were planted in what was otherwise a desolate
seascape. This reef has already grown and is now home to a rich and thriving
marine ecosystem. Members of the local community were also trained in scuba
diving and conservation to help with the restoring and conserving the coral
reef in the bay. By engaging hotel staff and the local community, the project
created sustainability champions who can implement what they have learnt within
hotels and across the community.
During
a second phase, almost eight times as much coral reef will be planted, covering
an area of over 2000 square metres. In addition to continuing to work with
sustainability champions, a key component of this new stage of the project will
be the construction of an offshore pontoon. Visitors with or without diving
experience will be able to travel by boat to the floating platform to learn
about marine conservation and coral reef restoration. The programme will also
develop a reef-planting experience for tourists to provide visitors with an
unforgettable and sustainable experience.
The
TUI Care Foundation's 'Marine May' is a month of activities dedicated to ocean
preservation. Through a series of project launches and educational activities,
it emphasises the importance of sustainable practices to safeguard marine
ecosystems for local communities and generations to come.
Image
Credit: © TUI Group
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