Joanna James
A cluster of stunning coral islands with glorious ocean views, the Maldives is a destination of choice for most travellers. As eco-conscious visitors, there are numerous ways in which you can help reduce the carbon footprint in this lowest-lying nation and support the ongoing sustainability efforts during your stay.
The importance of sunscreen cannot be overrated when travelling to the tropical Maldives. Most visitors spend most of their stay outdoors either swimming, snorkelling or engaging in other watersports considered to be some of the best things to do in Maldives. Hence, sunscreen must be used daily and reapplied during the day as needed. Therefore, carrying ample stocks of sunscreen is a must for every visitor. As regular sunscreens contain chemicals which can be harmful to the fragile marine ecosystems in the Maldives, it is important to buy reef-safe sunscreen to ensure protection of them.
As you plan the Maldives holiday, consider eco-friendly accommodation. Such properties have in-house green initiatives that help to protect the environment and reduce any adverse impact. By choosing such a property, you can be a part of these initiatives. This can be easily done by searching for properties that have sustainability programmes and have also earned recognition for consistently adhering to such standards and practices. Saii Lagoon Maldives is such a property with Green Globe Certification for deploying multi-pronged practices within the resort. A few of them are conservation of water and energy, waste reduction and protecting natural resources.
Travelling light not only eases your journey but also uses less energy to transport your baggage on your flight to/from the Maldives and on the speedboat ride to and from your resort. This can be easily done by making a list of only the essentials you need during your stay. Most of your clothes can be laundered and reused. Hence, pack light garments (you are travelling to a tropical island anyway) which are versatile. Pack minimum footwear as most resorts have a no-shoes approach, encouraging a relaxed and natural approach. A pair of slippers or flip-flops will be useful when you go for meals.
As you go about the resort and engage in various activities, be mindful of preserving the environment. This can start with not leaving litter around you, but disposing of it responsibly. Maintaining the reduce, re-use and recycle concept whenever possible is another. Carrying your water bottle and filling it up as needed is one way of doing it. When you are snorkelling or diving, apart from using reef-safe sunscreen, not touching or disturbing marine life is an act of protecting the environment and enabling future generations to appreciate the beauty of the underwater world.
When you pick souvenirs as mementoes of your holiday, select traditional handcrafted items that are sustainably produced. Whenever possible, opt for those made by local artisans as you help uplift local craft and the communities through such eco-friendly purchases.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
