SUSTAINABLE TOURISM FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Case Study: El Nido Resorts

Palawan, Philippines

Who We Are

Ten Knots Group • TEN KNOTS is based on the definition of knot as a

unit of speed of one nautical mile per hour. • Ten knots: ideal speed for getting to a dive

destination while cruising leisurely to appreciate nature

Ten Knots Group • Miniloc Island Resort – 1981

• Lagen Island Resort – 1998

• Apulit Island Resort – 2010

• Pangulasian Island Resort – 2012

Quadruple Bottomline

• Financial growth

• Environmental stewardship

• Community engagement

• Organizational development

Our Biodiversity Conservation Programs

Mooring Buoys for Everyone’s Use

• El Nido Resorts’ dive team installed (and maintains) mooring buoys in 21 sites around Bacuit Bay

Support of Community Conservation Efforts

• Installation of artificial reef modules in partnership with the local community and El Nido Foundation

Support of Community Conservation Efforts

• Supported first-ever Philippine Cockatoo Translocation Project, an initiative of the Katala Foundation, Inc.

Support of Community Conservation Efforts

• Sea turtle nest protection and turtle hatchling releases

Support of Community Conservation Efforts

• Crown-of-thorns starfish cleanups

Wildlife Monitoring • Nature Interpretation Training

Sharing

• Print and online media

Celebrating the Environment

• Earth Day

• World Ocean Day

• International Coastal Cleanup Day

Celebrating the Environment

• Earth Hour

• Green Hour

Cleanups

• Coastal and underwater cleanups

Training • Be G.R.E.E.N. (Guard, Respect, Educate El Nido)

Training Seminar

Other Initiatives

Waste Management

Management of Carbon Emissions

Success and Best Practices

Success and Best Practices

• Resort operations have discouraged environmentally destructive and illegal activities

• Negative impacts of resort operations are mitigated

Success and Best Practices

• Expansion of the base of partnerships for conservation

• Consistently favorable reviews from guests in the enjoyment of nature and nature-based activities

Success and Best Practices

• Pacific Asia Travel Association (“PATA”) Gold Award for Environmental Education Programme for El Nido Resorts Be GREEN Campaign, 2011

• ASEAN Green Hotel Award for the years 2008-2009 and 2010-2011

Success and Best Practices

• Travel and Leisure’s “Our Fifteen (15) Favorite Green Hotels,” 2008 and 2007, for US, South Asia and Australia

• British Airways’ Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, 2007, Investors in People Category

Success and Best Practices

• Conde Nast Traveler Green List Awards, 2006

• Islands Blue List Award, 2007

Challenges

Challenges

• Finding a balance between economic development and environmental conservation

• Equal, proper, and efficient enforcement of laws

Thank You!