PADI Gold Palm Resort Aqua-Trek receives global recognition for Conservation – World
Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2007
AQUA-TREK in Fiji makes shortlist of Finalists showcasing the World’s Leading Examples
of Best Practice in Travel & Tourism
In May, The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) of London announced the finalists
for the 2007 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards and Aqua-Trek, a PADI Gold Palm Resort
in the Fiji Islands , was one of 3 Awards finalists chosen for the Conservation
category. Tourism businesses from all over the world applied for these prestigious
Awards, which represent the highest accolade for best practice in Travel and Tourism
development.
An international committee of experts selected the finalists from hundreds of applications
from more than 40 countries representing Travel and Tourism on all seven continents.
A thorough site visit and scrupulous verification process was conducted for every
finalist.
According to the WTTC, Costas Christ, Judging Chairman of the Awards and an internationally
recognized expert in sustainable tourism said: “With rigorous evaluation standards
and detailed criteria, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards have become the “Oscars”
of the Travel and Tourism industry. Today that means not only providing an outstanding
tourism product but doing so in a way that helps to protect the cultural and natural
heritage of our planet”.
Aqua-Trek has created a world class Shark Dive in Beqa Lagoon, Fiji that has been
called “The Number 1 Shark Dive in the World”. Divers can view up to 8 species of
shark. Aqua-Trek’s Shark Conservation and Sustainable Tourism Program was developed
along with the dive and has been instrumental in the conservation of sharks on a
local and global level. The program aims to educate people about the importance
of protecting this threatened marine species whose role is vital to our ecosystem.
In addition to conservation and education, the project provides income to local
villages; preserves the cultural heritage of the indigenous people; provides Fiji
with a successful sustainable tourism enterprise; and creates an unparalleled opportunity
to study sharks in their natural environment.
Project AWARE Foundation, the dive industry’s leading non-profit environmental organization
contributed to the first shark dive Aqua-Trek created by donating much needed funding
towards moorings, marker buoys and a marine warden boat. In 1999 Project AWARE helped
Aqua-Trek with the first mooring project ever for the world famous Beqa lagoon which
facilitated 23 moorings.
Henrik Nimb, Vice President Marketing, Education & Business Development – PADI
Asia Pacific, commended Aqua-Trek on their international achievement, “Please accept
my heartiest congratulations on being voted as one of the 3 Awards Finalists chosen
for the Conservation category of the prestigious Tourism Awards. I had the pleasure
of diving with Aqua-Trek in Beqa last year and thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience.
Needless to say, the Shark Dive was exciting, and it impressed me enormously to
witness first-hand the result of all the hard work and commitment that has gone
into creating Aqua-Trek and the Shark Dive. This, together with Aqua-Trek’s strong
environmental vision makes PADI proud to be associated with you. Well done and congratulations
to you all.”
This award brings international recognition of best practices in conservation and
sustainable tourism to both Aqua-Trek and the Fiji Islands.
Mrs Bernadette Rounds Ganilau, Fiji’s Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations,
Tourism and Environment said: “Aqua-Trek reflects the most amazing best practice
strategy I have seen in a dive operation in Fiji or in the Pacific for that matter.
Apart from building Fiji up as one of the best dive sites in the world, Aqua-Trek
has undertaken this in the most sustainable way in association with the environment
and the traditional link that most Fijians hold to sharks and their prowess as kings
of the reef. Aqua-Trek’s lobbying of government to ban shark fishing in our territorial
waters and prohibit the sale of shark fin products in Fiji has also commenced. Everybody
wins - and visitors to our shores who have come specifically to dive with Aqua-Trek
can do so knowing full well that they are part of a forward looking strategy that
includes the preservation of the marine life and cultural values of our people,
whilst savouring the adrenalin pumping adventure with this ancient predator up close.
I salute Aqua-Trek for their vision”.
For further information about Aqua-Trek contact: MaryAnne Hines at
maryanne@aquatrek.com USA Ph: ++ 415 398-8990 or Brandon Paige at Aqua-Trek
Beqa at brandon@aquatrek.com Fiji Ph:
++ 679 345-0324. Visit their website at www.aquatrek.com.
About PADI
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the world’s largest
recreational dive training, certification and membership organisation. PADI Members
(dive centres, resorts, educational facilities, instructors, assistant instructors
and divemasters) issue nearly 1,000,000 certifications worldwide each year, making
underwater exploration and adventure accessible to the public, while maintaining
the highest industry standards for dive training, safety and customer service. For
more information, visit padi.com.
For further information visit your PADI Dive Centre/Resort.
Visit padi.com
PHOTO: Courtesy of Aqua-Trek, photographer Brook Matthews.
PADI Gold Palm Resort, Aqua-Trek has created a world class Shark Dive
in Beqa Lagoon , Fiji that has been called “The Number 1 Shark Dive in the World”.