When we think of a holiday in the Caribbean, we think of turquoise blue sea, palm-lined beaches and a drink by the pool. The Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort on the dream island of Aruba offers all this and much more in terms of amenities. But holidaymakers don't have to feel guilty about their ecological footprint, as the resort is the most environmentally friendly hotel in the entire Caribbean, and not only that: the United Nations named it the most environmentally friendly hotel in the world in 2020! A real lighthouse project that not only sets standards for the tropics, but also shows how tourism can and should work worldwide in the future.
Luxury and environmental friendliness are not a contradiction in terms, as the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort proves: The hotel simply offers everything that tourists dream of in the Caribbean: honeymoon arrangements, romantic dinners for two at sunset, elegantly furnished luxury suites, a fantastic Caribbean buffet in the hotel's own fine dining restaurant - the best restaurant in the Caribbean according to the renowned USA Today newspaper. The food is mostly cooked with fresh ingredients from Aruba and the catch of the day is freshly caught in the kitchen. Many dishes are vegetarian or vegan.
The Bucuti & Tara is located on the most unspoilt part of Eagle Beach, one of the ‘dream beaches of the world’. Against this backdrop, guests can look forward to numerous amenities such as a pool, an open-air cocktail bar and various spa treatments. Those interested in action-packed activities will also get their money's worth in the fitness centre or with surfing and diving courses.
So far, so wonderful. But the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort has much more to offer as an eco-champion:
Consistent environmental concept
Sustainability has been a central focus of the resort from the very beginning. Its Austrian owner Ewald Biemans was already considered a visionary in the field of mindful tourism long before terms such as ‘ecotourism’ and ‘eco-resorts’ became established. Bucuti & Tara was honoured early on with the Environmental Stewardship Award from the Caribbian Hotel Association, and over 30 other international awards and certifications have followed over the years.
In fact, the resort's efforts to protect the environment look as if an uncompromising environmental activist has collected and implemented all his wishes. The water is heated by solar panels, consumption is reduced by 60 per cent and grey water is used in the gardens. Most of the products used in the hotel and its kitchen come from local suppliers and producers. Even the luxurious products in the bathroom are freshly made by Aruba Aloe and are not offered in wasteful little bottles, but in refillable dispensers.
The company minimises the use of paper, recycles materials as far as possible and reuses the resulting products. For example, the outdoor deck is made from recycled materials, the floor of the fitness centre is made from recycled old tyres and laundry bags are made from old sheets. Detergents are biodegradable, cleaning products are environmentally friendly and the resort's electricity consumption is the lowest of any hotel in Aruba thanks to a range of measures. The housekeeping service is reduced in most cases, as many guests opt for a ‘Green Stay’ offer and help to save water and electricity themselves. Participation only includes cleaning service twice a week. Rubbish is taken out of the room every day, beds are made daily, but bed linen is not replaced. Plastic bottles are of course taboo, but guests are given reusable bottles by the hotel.
Speaking of waste: Bucuti's ‘Green Team’ organises an event several times a year where Bucuti employees are invited to make handicrafts from recycled items and take part in a competition. Guests are invited to act as judges during a celebration and exhibition of the recycled objects. The events take place at Christmas time, Halloween (costumes and decorations), spring and summer.
The resort operators are also trying to exert influence at a political level in the interests of the environment, for example when it comes to initiating a law to ban plastic bags.
Anyone who has ever been to the Caribbean knows how extraordinary it all is...
Commitment to nature
The hotel organises tours on which guests - as well as employees - can get to know the unique nature of Aruba. In the Arikok National Park, the fantastic Caribbean beaches merge into a rocky desert with giant green cacti and limestone cliffs polished by the trade winds and water. Owls and many other birds make their home on Aruba, turtles lay their eggs on the beaches and colourful fish swim along the reefs underwater. The Bucuti organises hikes or short bus tours for guests. However, they are also informed that some local companies offer activities such as cross-country island tours by jeep or SUV, which affect wild animals, flora and fauna in their habitat. This is combined with an appeal not to take part, because
our sand dunes have developed over centuries and are perishable. They also provide a habitat for animals and birds. We are committed to preserving them for future generations.
However, the measures are by no means limited to providing Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort guests with unique nature experiences, imparting knowledge about the island's fascinating flora and fauna and educating them about the threats they face. Direct activities to preserve biodiversity also complement the hotel's environmental education programme. Holidaymakers can take part in some of these themselves, such as ‘beach cleaning’ every third Wednesday of the month. Ewald Bieman founded the environmental committee of the Aruba Hotel Association in the early 1990s. One of his first projects was ‘Sponsor-a-Mile’, in which the Aruba Hotel Association undertakes to keep one mile of beach or roadside clean. This helps to prevent littering of the underwater habitat or to significantly reduce the amount of litter.
The resort's beach serves as a place for endangered sea turtles to lay their eggs. Four species come to the island: leatherback turtles, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles and green sea turtles. The hatcheries are secured and labelled. In addition, the lighting is reduced during the egg-laying period so as not to disturb the animals during their strenuous stay on land.
All of Aruba benefits
The local population benefits from this kind of mindful tourism. The Bucuti supports local farmers and producers with fair prices for their goods and the hotel is decorated with the works of local artists. Guests are encouraged to try out the cuisine of the local restaurants and not just stay at the resort.
The Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is proud of its very special holidaymaker clientele, namely responsible people who, despite their own prosperity, do not forget the rest of the world. Many guests take part in the ‘Pack for a purpose’ programme, reducing their luggage a little and filling it up with toys and supplies for the ‘Imeldahof Children's Home’ in Aruba, for example. The facility offers protection and counselling to boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 12 who are unable to live with their parents or carers due to adverse circumstances.
To curb the problem of stray dogs and cats, the hotel subsidises neutering and helps American tourists to adopt a stray animal they have fallen in love with. The Bucuti pays the vet bill and the transport home. It also supports a sanctuary for donkeys, the ‘Turtug Aruba’ foundation for the protection of sea turtles and ‘Animal Rights Aruba’, which campaigns for the protection of flora and fauna. Also with donations from holiday guests.
True to the motto ‘Do good and talk about it’, the Bucuti & Tara team is keen to encourage other companies and people to emulate their sustainability activities. For example, school classes take part in eco-tours of the site, best practice presentations are given at regional conferences and public announcements on environmental issues are sponsored. And hotel guests are informed about the hotel's sustainable practices via a ‘green channel’ in their rooms.
Text: Katrin Hilger
Pictures: Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort