Defending regenerative tourism on Earth Day

Standing up for regenerative tourism on Earth Day

As the global community celebrates Earth Day on April 22, our commitment at Red Sea Global to develop new, regenerative tourism destinations aligns perfectly with this year’s Earth Day theme: “Planet vs. Plastics.”

This special day highlights the urgent need to reduce plastic production by 60 percent by 2040, and we aim to eliminate single-use plastics from our newly opened destination, the Red Sea.

Furthermore, this day gives us food for thought to consider broader international commitments to environmental sustainability that resonate deeply with our own mission.

More than just reducing the use of plastics, Red Sea Global shows that luxury tourism and environmental stewardship can coexist, creating a model for the world to emulate in this decisive era of climate action.

Regenerative tourism represents a paradigm shift in the way tourism interacts with ecology, culture and community. Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that tourism should complement and rejuvenate the elements that make a destination like the Red Sea extraordinary.

We strive to improve the environments we develop, enhance habitats and take into account indigenous people and wildlife. Our approach is inspired by nature, but guided by science. Before development began, extensive consultation with scientists helped us carry out comprehensive marine spatial planning, which led us to develop only 22 of the 90 islands of which we are the responsible managers.

Our ambitious master plan includes a commitment to achieve a 30 percent net conservation benefit in Amaala and the Red Sea by 2040. This includes growing millions of plants, mangroves, seagrasses and corals, while also protecting the habitats of endangered species such as the hawksbill turtle and sooty falcon.

At our landscape nursery, the largest in the region, we have grown more than 5 million plants to date out of a target of 30 million, and in our mangrove nursery we are growing 3 million seedlings, out of our target of 50 million by 2030. We also use innovative coral farming techniques to replenish and relocate coral reefs, further supporting marine biodiversity in line with a commitment announced last year at the UN climate conference COP28.

Our vision is to limit the number of visitors to our resorts to ensure our beautiful but fragile environments can support tourism without deterioration. At The Red Sea we have limited development by design to accommodate only 1 million guests per year, and 500,000 upon completion at Amaala.

We invite world travelers, the private sector and policy makers to witness the transformative power of regenerative tourism in the Red Sea by visiting the Six Senses Southern Dunes, the St. Regis Red Sea Resort and Nujuma, a Ritz Carlton Reserve.

Johannes Pagano

Visitors to our destinations are not typical holidaymakers, but explorers and advocates of nature, in line with a global trend towards more sustainable travel choices. Our destinations offer pristine landscapes, rich biodiversity and world-class hospitality, designed to deliver transformative experiences that inspire a deep respect for environmental stewardship.

Our regenerative principles are integral to everything we do, from the building materials used to the operations of our resorts. We have banned single-use plastics in our destinations and are working closely with partners to develop detailed guidance on single-use plastics in our operations and in our supply chain.

All 50 of our eventual Red Sea resorts will be powered by solar energy 24/7, making it the largest completely off-grid tourist destination in the world once fully operational. We have built the world’s most comprehensive battery storage facility and installed more than 760,000 photovoltaic panels across five solar farms.

This approach aims to reduce CO2 emissions in the Red Sea by an estimated 600,000 tonnes annually, supporting our efforts to achieve net-zero emissions when the destination is completed. In addition, a growing fleet of luxury electric and hydrogen vehicles underlines our commitment to clean mobility.

As we continue our work, which is aligned with the Saudi Vision 2030, we see regenerative tourism as an environmental imperative and an engine for economic growth and employment.

We invite travelers from around the world, the private sector and policy makers to witness the transformative power of regenerative tourism in the Red Sea by visiting the first of our resorts to open their doors: Six Senses Southern Dunes, The St. Regis Red Sea Resort and Nujuma, a Ritz Carlton Reserve.

Let this Earth Day remind us to adopt practices that preserve our planet’s precious resources for future generations and to do everything we can to make better choices. Even if we just move away from single-use plastic, every contribution helps.

• John Pagano is the group CEO of Red Sea Global

Disclaimer: The views expressed by the writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Arab News