RIU joins forces with Natura 2000 to protect the turtle in Cape Verde
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RIU joins forces with Natura 2000 to protect the turtle in Cape Verde
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Category: Africa Indian Ocean - Cape Verde - Industry economy -
Trends / Expert's advice
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2012-02-13
The NGO is to develop RIU’s environmental policy on the island of Boavista and especially in the Lacaçao area, the location for the new Riu Touareg Hotel
RIU Hotels & Resorts has signed a collaboration agreement with the NGO Cabo Verde Natura 2000, an organisation dedicated to the protection of the turtle on the island of Boavista. In accordance with this agreement, Natura 2000 will carry out assessments and audits on behalf of RIU in relation to environmental protection, especially regarding measures which have already been taken and others planned for the future in the Lacaçao area, where RIU opened the Riu Touareg in May 2011, their third hotel in Boavista and fifth in Cape Verde. RIU will also involve the participation of its guests through organised activities and the screening of documentaries. To support the development of these projects, RIU will make an annual contribution to Cabo Verde Natura 2000.
Lacaçao beach is especially rich in biodiversity and is an egg laying sanctuary forturtles. Special efforts have therefore been made to monitor and develop initiatives aimed at minimizing the impact of tourist activity in the area and directly protect the turtles. To carry out this project in the most effective and professional way possible, RIU has decided to take advantage of the experience of the NGO Cabo Verde Natura 2000, which has devoted more than 12 years to developing environmental projects in the Republic of Cape Verde.
From now on, Natura 2000 will represent RIU in Cape Verde in environmental matters, dealing on their behalf with government authorities and other organisations and foundations. In addition, thanks to their reports, the hotel chain will always be a source of detailed, up-to-date information to provide to tour operators and guests.
RIU guests will also have the opportunity to participate actively in environmental protection activities. Once a week, the hotels’ theatres will show a documentary on biodiversity in Boavista, while their entertainment department will organise educational games for children, and also turtle outings and releases for all guests. In addition to this, all guests will receive information on the activities of Natura 2000 who organise voluntary programmes and different initiatives throughout the year, which can involve visitors as well as the local population.
About RIU in Cabo Verde:
The chain opened its first hotel in Cape Verde in 2005 and, after the opening of the Riu Touareg, operates five resorts with a total of 2.650 rooms. The first hotel to open was the ClubHotel Riu Funana which was followed in 2006 by the ClubHotel Riu Garopa. Both hotels are located on the island of Sal and together form a large complex ideal for family holidays. On the island of Boavista the hotel chain has the Luca Kalema hotel and the Riu ClubHotel Karamboa which opened in 2008. This 5-star resort was recognized in 2009 with the Ulysses Award for Innovation in Tourism Enterprises awarded annually by the World Tourism Organization (WTO). The award recognizes the development of the tourism industry on the island and its environmentally friendly practices.
About RIU Hotels & Resorts:
The international RIU chain was founded by the Riu family in 1953 as a small holiday firm and is still owned by the family's third generation. The company specialises in sun and sand holiday resorts. More than 50% of its resorts offer RIU's acclaimed all-inclusive by RIU formula. With the inauguration of its first urban hotel in 2010, RIU widens its range of product with a new city hotel product line called Riu Plaza. RIU Hotels & Resorts now has more than 100 hotels in 16 countries and 25,000 employees which welcome over 3.2 million guests a year. RIU is currently the world's 30th ranked chain (according to HOTELS magazine in 2011), one of the Caribbean's most popular and the fourth largest in Spain.
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