Important Alliances Formed to Protect Mesoamerican Reef
Top Hotels Pledge to Manage Environmental Resources Responsibly
As a demonstration of its commitment to environmental
conservation, Mexico's
Riviera Maya has launched the Mesoamerican Tourism Reef Initiative (MARTI) to
help protect the beautiful and unique flora and fauna in the area surrounding
the Northern Hemisphere's largest coral reef.
The initiative unites tourism service providers such as
hotels, tourism developers, tour companies and cruise lines with civil and
governmental organizations to develop and implement initiatives in favor of
the environment in general and the area surrounding the Mesoamerican Reef in
particular.
Created by the Conservation International Coral Reef
Alliance and the local environmental organization Amigos de Sian Ka'an in
conjunction with the Riviera Maya Hotel Association, the initiative aims to
promote environmental best practices, further the responsible use of natural
resources and foster a culture of environmental sustainability among business
owners, hotel operators and even guests. The alliance is the only one of its
kind in the area surrounding the Mesoamerican Reef.
Members of the alliance must complete several actions,
including sign a letter of commitment, allow MARTI authorities to assess
their level of environmental sustainability (including recycling programs,
solid waste and wastewater management, energy and water-saving initiatives,
etc.) and suggest ways to improve them, create a "green team" to
make sure recommended environmental initiatives are implemented, draft an
environmental action plan and policy handbook, and train personnel in
environmental awareness.
While not a formal certification program, MARTI bases its
norms and best practices on such international environmental certification
programs as Green Globe and ISO 14000, said Adriana Del Angel of the Riviera
Maya Hotel Association, who heads up the initiative's hotel sustainability
project.
Del Angel said 20 hotels have already committed to MARTI's
best practices, 35 additional hotels are participating in the initiative and
she expects 100 hotels to form part of the alliance in the short term.
"The Riviera Maya stands out among tourism
destinations for its wide array of marvelous landscapes that captivate
visitors: splendid beaches with white sand and clear waters, well-preserved
jungles, and ecoparks that promote the protection of flora and fauna as well
as provide entertainment," said Del Angel. "The alliance represents
yet another example of the Riviera Maya's commitment not only to tourism
development and growth, but also to creating cultural and environmental
awareness to enable the destination to be enjoyed by generations to
come."
The Mexico
Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state
governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico's
tourism attractions and destinations nationally and internationally. Created
in 1999, the MTB is Mexico?s
tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the
private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America,
Europe, Asia and Latin America.
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