Home Publisher's Point of View Getting a Grip on the Climate Change/Tourism Link: One Example of Negative...

Getting a Grip on the Climate Change/Tourism Link: One Example of Negative Impact

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U.S. News & World Report recently listed what they believe to be the World’s Best Places to Visit. Topping the list: the Great Barrier Reef. Hugging the east coast of Queensland, Australia, the Great Barrier Reef extends from Cape York in the north to Bundaberg in the south—a total of 1,250 miles. The Great Barrier Reef encompasses 3,000 coral reefs, 600 islands and 1,625 species of fish and attracts 1.6 million annual visitors annually. An attraction in many ways, the Great Barrier Reef is a perfect example of an area highly vulnerable to climate change—coral bleaching caused by increasing carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere.

The Great Barrier Reef is already experiencing coral bleaching and a recent report illustrates how vulnerable one continent can be to this phenomenon. Based on surveys of Chinese, U.K., U.S. and domestic tourists by The Australia Institute, results show that tourism areas adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef risk losing more than 1 million visitors per year, worth over $1 billion in tourism expenditure. This expenditure supports around 10,000 tourism jobs in regional Queensland, which are also considered at-risk. While many potential visitors will seek out other Australian attractions, this research found that many will choose to not visit Australia at all. Almost 175,000 people each year from China, the United Kingdom and United States are more likely to visit a country other than Australia if bleaching persists. This is the equivalent of 436 Boeing 747 jet loads of holiday makers not traveling to Australia each year.

“While there has been lots of talk about the potential tourism impacts of coral bleaching, this is the first time anyone has gone to our key tourism markets and asked them what they might do if we aren’t able to better protect the reef,” Executive Director of The Australia Institute, Ben Oquist said.

Record Jump in CO2 in April

While certainly a problem “local” to Australia in many ways, we all contribute to the buildup of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. In April, the amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the air jumped by the largest amount on record. Carbon dioxide levels increased by 4.16 parts per million compared to a year earlier, according to readings at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. Records go back to 1950.

Coral bleaching has been in the news a lot lately, including in our industry. A new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) outlook shows that many coral reefs around the world will likely be exposed to higher-than-normal sea temperatures for an unprecedented third year in a row, leading to increased bleaching—and with no signs of stopping. While the bleaching event is global, it will hit the United States hard, especially in Hawaii, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Florida Keys, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

One company in our industry working to have a direct positive impact on coral is Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas. In the Maldives, where Anantara has four luxury resorts, the company is working with marine biologists from Coral Reef CPR—conservationists, biologists and ecologists whose mission is to reduce threats and promote sustainable management and rehabilitation of reef ecosystems—to develop ways to protect coral.

Extending across the expansive Laccadive Sea in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a country of atolls; small coral islands encircled by azure lagoons. Unique to the Maldives, luxury resorts are the sole occupants of each island. Coral reefs beneath the waters of the Maldives protect the pristine beaches and guard the crystal-clear lagoons. They also support an astounding array of tropical fish, crustaceans and mollusks.

Holistic Approach to Reef Protection

In collaborating with leading experts in their fields for groundbreaking marine biology research, Anantara is pioneering the HARP (Holistic Approach to Reef Protection) program. Currently all project work undertaken in the Maldives by Coral Reef CPR for HARP is funded by the Anantara initiative “Dollars For Deeds”, whereby Anantara guests are invited to donate one dollar for each night of their stay, which is then matched dollar for dollar. Dollars for Deeds funds raised in the Maldives are committed over the coming five years to three key focus areas: protection of marine and coastal environments; environmental education; and community welfare. Click here to learn more about Anantara’s work.

According to NOAA, a bleaching event is not always a death sentence for corals. In fact, corals are remarkably resilient creatures. Just as a healthy person is more able to fend off a cold, healthy corals are more likely to resist large-scale stress like a bleaching event. Resilient corals that do bleach have a better chance of recovering if ocean temperatures return to normal relatively quickly and other human impacts are kept at a minimum.

Coral bleaching is one of those “canary in the coal mine” messages to us all. Do what you can, either directly or indirectly, to protect our planet’s corals.

Green Lodging News Adds reCollect2 as Survey Sponsor

Green Lodging News welcomes reCollect2 Co. as a Green Lodging Survey sponsor at the Bronze level. The reCollect2 recycler is a three piece set which includes a 10 quart wastebasket, matching recycle bin and base. Select message(s) of one’s choice can be printed on the individual bins and base. The set is manufactured from reprocessed plastic products. Each reCollect2 set measures 15.25” x 12.25” x 12” high and is made in Wisconsin. Call (262) 527-9375, e-mail info@reCollect2recycler.com, or visit www.reCollect2recycler.com for more information.

Green Lodging News Adds 3 Pillar Solutions to Directory

Green Lodging News welcomes 3 Pillar Solutions, LLC to its Green Product & Service Directory in the Auditors/Consultants category. Kathy McGuire is an award-winning Sustainable Development Professional (ISSP-SA) with 10+ years of progressive experience and a proven track record of implementing sustainability projects to reduce waste, engage stakeholders, and increase brand awareness. Her company, 3 Pillar Solutions, specializes in hospitality, golf, sporting events, concerts, fairs and festivals. The company will design a program that will align core business goals with sustainable practices operating as one cohesive unit, which will ensure the best possible performance outcomes. Call (561) 748-6750 or e-mail kathy@3pillarsolutions.com.

Green Lodging Survey

The Green Lodging Survey, a joint effort of Green Lodging News and Greenview, is now ‘live’ and open through August 31. Be sure to complete the survey and have others do the same. The survey is geared toward those who own and operate lodging establishments anywhere in the world. Click here to access the survey.

Who is Your Sustainability Champion?

Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

Looking for Guest Columnists

Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

Planning Advertising for 2016?

Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2016. Many excellent spots are available on the website, in the weekly e-mail newsletter, and just-announced Green Lodging Survey. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2016 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.

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The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight currently stands at 4,942. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There is a “subscribe” form in the upper left area of the Green Lodging News home page.

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As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

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