Sustainable Tourism Unit

24/01/2025

16/01/2025

The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI) workshop was a game-changer for sustainable tourism in Mauritius! Over three days, industry leaders, policymakers, and passionate changemakers came together to tackle plastic waste and pave the way for a Certified Green Destination by 2030.

🎤 Hear from Svitlana Mikhalyeva (UNEP) as she shares key insights on how GTPI is driving real impact in the tourism sector, fostering innovation, and shaping a plastic-free future. 🌱♻️

Tourism Authority - Mauritius TUI Care Foundation

30/12/2024

🌟🎉 Happy New Year! 🎉🌟

As we step into 2025, we look back on a year of impactful strides and shared successes in our journey towards a greener, more sustainable Mauritius. Thank you for your support and dedication that have been the driving force behind our initiatives, making every challenge an opportunity to grow and innovate.

This New Year, we renew our commitment to:
🌿 Championing green certifications to establish Mauritius as a leading sustainable destination.
🌍 Empowering operators with training and tools to adopt eco-friendly practices.
🌱 Nurturing collaborations that uphold our vision for sustainable tourism.
💡 Innovating solutions that balance progress with preservation.

Let’s make 2025 a year of bold action, deeper partnerships, and lasting impact as we continue to protect our island’s treasures for future generations. Together, we can create a legacy of sustainability that inspires the world.

Thank you for being part of our journey! Here’s to another year of meaningful progress and shared success. ✨

13/12/2024

🌍💚 Last month, we had the pleasure of hosting Manuel Ferreira from the TUI Care Foundation

Manuel joined us for the launch of the Destination Zero Waste Programme Mauritius and the GTPI workshops. He also explored some of Mauritius’ best sustainability practices under this project, co-managed with the Tourism Authority - Mauritius

🌱 At Northfields International School we explored eco-friendly initiatives in partnership with Reef Conservation– a true inspiration for sustainability within the Eco-Schools Mauritius initiative!

♻️ A visit to BEM Recycling highlighted innovative recycling processes and opportunities for sustainable waste management collaborations.

🖐️ At Beautiful LocalHands Manuel discovered handcrafted products made from recycled materials and saw how sustainable practices empower local communities.

💡 Thank you, Manuel, for your support and collaboration! Together, we’re making great progress in sustainable tourism and community development.

📸 Stay tuned for updates as we continue working towards a greener future for Mauritius!

🌿✨

09/12/2024

🌍✨ Tourism Authority - Mauritius was at the Austrian and German Roadshow! ✨🌍

We're thrilled to announce the Tourism Authority - Mauritius' participation in the recent roadshow organised by the MTPA with our Austrian and German partners, where we proudly showcased Mauritius' sustainable tourism strategy as we journey toward becoming a green-certified destination by 2030. 🌱

Adding to the excitement, François Leguat Reserve Rodrigues and Mautourco, two of the Gold Winners at the last STMA24, joined us to present their outstanding sustainable products and initiatives! 🏆 Their success stories highlighted the potential and creativity of Mauritius as a destination that prioritizes eco-conscious experiences.

Key highlights:
✅ Strengthening global partnerships.
✅ Promoting the Horizon.eco platform for tracking sustainable practices.
✅ Advocating for capacity-building and community-driven projects like the Bel Ombre Certification.

Together, we’re driving change and fostering collaboration to build a greener, more resilient tourism sector. 🌟

📩 Stay connected for more updates on our sustainability journey.

28/11/2024

🌟 Final Day of the GTPI Workshop 🌍✨

Yesterday marked the grand finale of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI) Workshop, an inspiring culmination of three days dedicated to building a sustainable future for Mauritius’ tourism industry.

📸 Highlights from the Day:
🎓 Certificate Handing Over Ceremony:
Hon. Minister Sydney Pierre, Junior Minister of Tourism, personally handed over 35 certificates to the newly trained trainers, recognizing their readiness to lead the fight against plastic waste in the tourism sector.

🌿 Plastic Waste Management Training:
The certified trainers are now equipped with advanced knowledge and practical tools to drive sustainability initiatives across the island. This milestone signifies a pivotal step towards achieving Mauritius' goal of becoming a certified green destination by 2030.

💬 Key Remarks:

Hon. Minister Sydney Pierre applauded the participants’ commitment and emphasized the critical role they will play in shaping a sustainable future.
Partners from UNEP, Ministry of Tourism, the Tourism Authority - Mauritius, and the TUI Care Foundation celebrated this achievement as a collective success for Mauritius and the global tourism community.
📢 Next Steps:
This isn’t the end—it’s just the beginning. These trainers will now cascade their learnings across the industry, creating ripples of change in plastic waste management and sustainable tourism practices.

✨ A heartfelt congratulations to all the participants, organizers, and partners who made this journey a resounding success! Together, we’re turning vision into action.

27/11/2024

Day 1 of the GTPI Train-the-Trainer: Building a Sustainable Future Together!

Yesterday marked the incredible beginning of the Train-the-Trainer program under the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI) at the beautiful Ravenala Attitude Hotel. Participants and experts joined forces to address one of the most pressing challenges in tourism: plastic pollution.

📸 Key Highlights from Day 1:
1️⃣ Interactive Group Sessions: Participants worked collaboratively to design actionable solutions for reducing single-use plastics in the tourism industry.
2️⃣ Inspiring Presentations: Experts shared insights on the importance of a circular economy and innovative waste management strategies.
3️⃣ Commitment to Change: Each participant pledged to champion sustainability within their communities and organizations.

✨ Featured Moments:

Hands-on discussions that sparked ideas for sustainable practices.
Expert presentations that shed light on the global and local impacts of tourism plastics.
A shared vision for a cleaner, greener Mauritius.
This program is part of Mauritius' ambitious goal to become a certified green destination by 2030, with strong collaboration from UNEP, the Tourism Authority - Mauritius, and the TUI Care Foundation.

Stay tuned as we continue this transformative journey today with more inspiring activities and insights. Together, we are building a brighter, more sustainable future!

26/11/2024

🌍✨ Mauritius Leading the Change in Sustainable Tourism! ✨🌿

💬 Hon. Sydney Pierre, Junior Minister of Tourism, stated:

“The GTPI workshop and the launch of DZWPM are critical milestones in our journey to position Mauritius as a global leader in sustainable tourism. Together, we can create a greener, brighter future for our island.”

Yesterday, we proudly kicked off the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI) workshop at the picturesque Ravenala Attitude Hotel in Turtle Bay! 🌊 Tourism leaders, hoteliers, tour operators, and global experts came together to tackle plastic pollution and chart a greener future for Mauritius.

📅 Day 1 Recap:
💡 Engaging sessions on the impact of plastics, innovative solutions, and Mauritius' progressive legislation against single-use plastics.
🎉 Official launch of the Destination Zero Waste Programme Mauritius (DZWPM), initiative of the Tourism Authority - Mauritius in collaboration with TUI Care Foundation —a monumental step toward reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
💬 Inspiring keynote by Ms. Lisa Simrique Singh, UN Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles, emphasizing the global responsibility to act locally.

📅 Coming Up (Days 2 & 3):
🌟 An intensive GTPI Train-the-Trainer program with 35 passionate participants ready to lead their communities toward sustainability, thanks to the support of UNEP

📢 Stay tuned for updates and insights from the workshop. Together, we can , , and !

09/11/2024

🌱 Inspiring Progress for a Sustainable Future! 🌱🌍
We’re pleased to announce the launch of the Destination Zero Waste Programme Mauritius (DZWPM), in partnership with Reef Conservation, the dedicated coordinator of Eco-Schools Mauritius! This impactful project is now underway, engaging young minds across a minimum of 30 schools (in Mauritius and in Rodrigues) to embrace sustainability. Through hands-on activities focused on waste reduction, recycling, and environmental stewardship, students are actively contributing to a greener future for our island! ♻️📚
With Reef Conservation’s guidance, these young eco-champions are delving into the principles of Green & Clean Tourism and developing practical skills to transform their schools—and ultimately our nation—into models of eco-consciousness. Together, we’re working towards a sustainable, waste-free Mauritius for generations to come! 🌎💧🌿
Centre Esperance 2000, Atelier de Formation Joie De Vivre (both part of the ANFEN network), and the University of Technology, Mauritius - UTM are among the firsts to drive transformative educational projects across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. 🌟
Together, we’re making impactful strides towards a sustainable and inclusive Mauritius!
The Destination Zero Waste Programme Mauritius (DZWPM) is an initiative of the TUI Care Foundation and piloted by the Tourism Authority - Mauritius 💪✨

08/11/2024

Bel Ombre Embarks on a Journey to Green Certification! ✨🌿

Tourism Authority - Mauritius is thrilled to announce that Bel Ombre has officially kick-started its journey towards becoming a certified sustainable destination! 🌱🎉 This major step forward will help us protect and celebrate our breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, and incredible biodiversity — all while creating a thriving, eco-friendly tourism model for generations to come.

With the support of our amazing partners and the dedication of our local community, Bel Ombre has already shone bright at a previous Top 100 stories in 2022. Now, we’re ready to take it to the next level, working together to meet the 75 rigorous sustainability criteria set by GreenDestinations. 🏅💪

✨ Stay tuned as we pave the way to a more sustainable future! Together, let’s make Bel Ombre a shining example of how responsible tourism can preserve and uplift our natural and cultural heritage.