Ecolodge seeks to inspire

The world’s best examples of sustainable tourism businesses and destinations were recognised at the recent World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in Madrid, Spain.

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, held as part of WTTC’s 15th Global Summit, showcase and celebrate sustainable tourism businesses and destinations around the world.

Feynan Ecolodge

Feynan Ecolodge, a 26-room lodge located in Jordan’s Dana Biosphere Reserve, was sole nomination from the Middle East. And although the community award was won by the hard-hitting, Indian slum tourism company, Reality Tours & Travel, Feynan’s founder Nabil Tarazi is proud just to be nominated.

'Ecotourism is only really just beginning in the Middle East, particularly in Jordan, and international recognition like this is so important for us to spread our philosophy amongst the local market as well and hopefully inspire others.'

In April 2007, after 13 years of running a tech company in London, Tarazi packed up his suits and ties and went on an epic journey of self-discovery that eventually ended up in the boutique hospitality property.

'Feynan Ecolodge has been recognised by the WTTC for the positive impact that the lodge has on the local community,' he explains in an exclusive with TTN. 'We have a unique business model that integrates the community into our operations, meaning that revenue from tourism provides sustainable income in a place where there are few other opportunities. As well as providing direct incomes through exclusively local recruitment, we source as many services and products for the lodge from local communities as possible.

For instance, a pool of 45 local drivers bring guests to the lodge from the main road, and local baker Um Khalid bakes fresh bread three times a day for Feynan from her tented home.

'Over 80 per cent of what’s used in the lodge is sourced from within a 60-km radius. In total, over 50 per cent of income from tourism at Feynan stays in the local community and benefits around 90 families in the area.

'As well as this, the lodge has important cultural benefits such as celebrating Bedouin traditions and providing a means for people to continue living a traditional semi-nomadic Bedouin lifestyle in the 21st century.'

Feynan Ecolodge is off the grid, generating most of its energy needs from the sun and is lit by candles and stars at night.

'I think we are also nominated because we don’t just focus on the community but have a holistic approach to ecotourism that includes contributing to conservation, having a minimal impact on the environment and educating guests as well. This all-round approach is what makes us the only true ecolodge in Jordan.'

Trained local guides

'Our fully trained eco-guides are some of the best in Jordan. They are all local Bedouins who have grown up in the area around the lodge. They know the land like no one else and are the best people to introduce our guests to the nature, history and culture of the area.'

Guest experiences at Feynan are grounded in the area and are designed to give people an insight into what life in this part of the world is about. 'Our guides unlock genuine interaction with the local people and giving a real insight into local life, perhaps through guiding a hike or biking excursion or through one of our popular Bedouin experiences whereby guests are invited into a local family’s tented home to learn about a Bedouin tradition.'

Feynan has 26 en-suite rooms over three categories: deluxe (large rooms with balconies), standard (large rooms) and economy (small rooms). Starting price in low season for guests is $200 per room based on two people sharing.

All stays at Feynan are on an all-inclusive basis, so price includes dinner, breakfast, lunch, tea, coffee and refreshments, and a range of guided activities such as hiking, cooking classes and stargazing.

Staff Report

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Tourism for tomorrow

Each year, more than 20 international experts from around the world, representing the private sector, academic institutions, non-profit organisations, and governments, come together as independent judges to select the finalists and winners for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

The judging process, where independent experts visit each of the 15 finalists, is the most rigorous of any awards process in the travel and tourism industry.

The 2015 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards winner of the community category was Reality Tours & Travel, India. In Mumbai’s Dharavi slum, Reality Tours & Travel reaches the poorest in the community and offers them an opportunity.

The destination category was won by Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city, for being completely redesigned with sustainability in mind; extensive pedestrian spaces, an ecological zone and state-of-the-art under-street recycling systems.

The environment category award went to Soneva Group, Thailand and Maldives, where at the operational level, bottled water is banned, Maldives’ largest solar installation has been set up and $5.5 million has been raised for carbon mitigation projects through a climate levy on room revenue.

The innovation award went to TripAdvisor GreenLeaders, US, for its programme that promotes green practices to Trip Advisor’s 280 million unique monthly users.

The people category award went to Confortel Hotels, Spain for providing employment and career opportunities for people with disabilities and leading the way in accessible tourism.

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