Most of us travel to seek adventure and experience new things. Although it’s encouraging to see that tourism is recovering from the pandemic low, revenge travel and over-tourism have negatively impacted Mother Earth. When there are excessive tourists visiting a popular destination or attraction, the local environment is bound to suffer from damages.
Having said that, more travellers these days are adopting the way of sustainable travel. Whether it’s dining in at local restaurants that source from organic materials, saying ‘hell no’ to plastic straws, and using reusable bathing bottles, we all have the ability to make positive changes.
The best thing you can do is vote with your wallet by supporting properties that uphold these values. These accommodations should not only make a direct impact within the community, but also educate travellers on the effective ways they can preserve and protect the environment.
Last year, Marriott International announced the expansion of the Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy program that focuses on 3 key pillars: Environmental Protection, Community Engagement and Marine Conservation. With close to 100 hotels under the Marriott Bonvoy umbrella in Asia Pacific adopting this program, here are 3 activities to immerse in the Good Travel experience when visiting Langkawi:
The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi: The Planting of Sea Cucumbers Experience
Due to its unique location, The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi is strategically nestled between the lush 10-million-year-old rainforest on one side and the clear-blue Andaman Sea on the other. Besides being able to observe wildlife from a distance and enjoy a luxurious stay that is guaranteed to rejuvenate one’s body, mind and soul, the award-winning resort also invites guests to participate in a hands-on sea cucumber experience.
With in-house marine biologist Mr. Fadzli Luqman helming The Sea Cucumber Reproduction Project, guests can learn some interesting insights on sea cucumbers at the nursery located at the entrance of the resort’s private beach. Shaped like a chubby worm, these marine invertebrates come from the same family as starfishes and sea urchins. Unlike their namesake fruit, sea cucumbers wouldn’t make a very appetizing salad topping. In fact, people seek them out for medical purposes due to their healing properties.
During our session at the nursery, we got to learn the vital role sea cucumbers play in the marine ecosystem. In their natural habitat, these sea animals eat dirty sand and poop out clean sand – basically functioning as vacuum cleaners of the ocean. It’s eye-opening to note how their digestion process acts as a fertilizer and promotes coral growth. Thanks to sea cucumbers, they not only provide more oxygen in the water but eliminate dead materials on the seafloor.
At Ritz-Carlton Langkawi, Fadzli and his team are hoping to provide more awareness through educational talk and hands-on experience where hotel guests will have the opportunity to release the mature sea cucumber out in the open sea via a kayak session. In addition, parents with kids are also encouraged to drop by the tree-house inspired Ritz Kids facility for more fun edutainment as well as art and craft activities.
The St. Regis Langkawi: The Mangrove Conservation Experience
While the private pools and bespoke amenities may be the pièce de résistance at St. Regis Langkawi, luminaries (as guests are lovingly called) can experience a more meaningful vacation by looking at Langkawi’s dazzling biodiversity and geological marvels through a different lens. Instead of flocking to just the beautiful beaches, why not explore the main island’s 220-million-year old treasure trove of diverse habitats as well?
To show luminaries how much more the 99 Magical Islands in the Sun has to offer, St. Regis Langkawi has joined forces with local organisation NAAM to launch the Mangrove Conservation programme. Through this initiative, luminaries can opt to join a mangrove tour to experience an educational journey to learn about the exotic plants and animal species that make up the unique ecosystem in Kilim Geoforest Park.
During our excursion, we got to learn about the unique limestone rock formations and witness natural inhabitants such as eagles and other migratory birds, reptiles (turtles, snakes), mammals (monkeys, squirrels, bats), and various types of fishes.
As we cruised down the river, our naturalist taught us how to differentiate the various mangrove species (there are approx 55 species in Langkawi), and how the reproduction of mangroves is based on water current, tidal condition, and mudbanks. By getting a hands-on experience with the planting of mangrove seed, we left with a deeper sense of appreciation on how the mangrove ecosystem impacts the wildlife habitat in the surrounding areas.
To make booking, guests can book through the resort’s Concierge department at concierge.langkawi@stregis.com.
The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa: The Recycling of Old Linens
Every 12 – 18 months, luxury hotels will discard old linens – including sheets, towels and bathrobes – to ensure the pristine quality for guests. Unfortunately, these unused linens end up as textile waste in landfills. Since partnering up with Kloth Malaysia Sdn Bhd, The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa has not only been donating old linens to vulnerable communities (via the Kloth Care Fabric Recycling Movement), but also created some interesting activities through this sustainable initiative.
Led by the recreation team in The Westin, the linen upcycling program allows guests to repurpose old linens into usable items like (coaster and napkin), and immerse themselves in the traditional art of batik painting. This is not just a meaningful way to give back to the community, but parents can have a good bonding session with their children by exposing them to this cultural element. After which, they can take home the hand-drawn batik handicrafts as memorabilia.
