The Maldives is extremely vulnerable to plastic pollution and climate change. You see these effects frequently, maybe when you're going on an excursion or an island visit, only to find plastic everywhere and dying coral reefs...
So... What is eco-friendly travelling?
It is a form of travelling that consciously considers the environment and the community of the place you’re travelling to. It is being a responsible and an appreciative global citizen that shows care and empathy towards our planet Earth.
Sustainable tourism and eco-friendly travel go hand in hand these days. These are all ways of conserving the natural beauty of the planet for centuries to come. Just the tiniest of a gesture by you alone, could go a long way.
At Maldives Secrets, we truly care about the environment and wellbeing of our planet. Feel free to read more of our conservation tips here.
For now, here are some tips on how you can have an eco-friendly holiday in The Maldives:
1. Carry your own water bottle
It is always good to use a refillable water bottle instead of opting for a single use plastic water bottle that you will probably throw away after drinking. You can fill your own water bottle before heading out for the day to avoid buying multiple plastic water bottles during the day.
See below a photo taken by Kate at a Resort in the The The Maldives, so much plastic gets washed up onto the beach! Please use a refillable, reusable water bottle to avoid this.
2. Say no to plastic straws
This is one of the easiest ways you can contribute to the environment. There are a lot of options for straws nowadays like bamboo straws, metal straws, or even edible straws. Or keep it simple and drink straw-less!
3. Keep the beaches clean
If you see waste on the beach, be a good person and put it in the bin. Make a habit out of removing plastic bags and other waste that keeps flying around the beach and also, remember to always take your own trash when you go back after enjoying the day on the beach. A clean beach makes everyone happy!
4. Say no to plastic bags
Carry a tote instead. Tote bags are trendy and look cute! There are endless prints, design, and brands of totes for different purposes. If you don't have a tote, opt for a paper bag.
5. Do not dump any garbage into the sea
Not only is this illegal, but it also poses an immense threat to the ocean, eco-systems, marine life, coral reefs and our planet. Think of all the fish and turtles that call ocean their home, thinka bout how they can easily mistake plastic for food and painfully suffocate and die due to plastic pollution. Do we want garbage in our homes? No right?
6. Support sustainable tourism
This can easily be done by staying in guesthouses and resorts that are eco-friendly and lucky for you, Maldives has a lot of sustainable options to choose from! Contact us for more details about this, we would love to help. You can enquire here.
7. Practice your usual habits even on your vacation
We would usually switch off electricity when we go out of our house right? Practice this even at the hotel you’re staying at. Also, re-using your towel and linen provided at the hotel unless you need to change it, is also a great way you can reduce your carbon footprint. Little things always go a long way.
8. Walking
This does not directly contribute to the environment but think of it like this: when you have the option to choose walking or getting a ride, it’s always best to choose to walk. It involves zero emission of any greenhouse gas and it’s the greenest way to travel.
Let's be eco-friendly travellers together!
This list of ideas is just the beginning for addressing the growing concern of plastic pollution in our oceans. Remember though, that the important thing is that we all do something, no matter how small our actions are - at least we are doing something!
Let us know if you have any questions!
Here's a little bit more about us, Maldives Secrets, and what we do:
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