We have been sharing our #BoutecoWorldStories on Instagram as a series of personal heart-warming stories of what it’s been like in destinations around the world during the pandemic. Porter mag recently listed Bouteco's account as one of the best travel instas to follow.
With 195 countries in the world, it’s our way of helping us all stay connected with every corner of the planet at a time when we can't travel.
2021
#48 POSTCARD FROM MALAYSIA from Arnaud Girodon @thedatailangkawi
We celebrate this one-of-a-kind rainforest resort for setting a new benchmark for sustainable luxury through their #DataiPledge, which is the result of great ambition and meticulous planning. The programme has been developed by their dedicated team of naturalists, marine biologists and sustainability team and comprises a number of groundbreaking initiatives, setting a new benchmark for sustainable luxury travel for the future…
“Greetings from Malaysia and our green paradise island of Langkawi. Just like the rest of the world, this lush haven has not been spared by the dreaded pandemic, with the government deciding very early in the year to contain the spread by closing their frontiers. During this time at #TheDataiLangkawi, we have been working on ambitious new sustainability initiatives — which we started long before Covid-19 arrived — and the effects of the year have acted as a catalyst to double down on our efforts.
Implementing measures to support each other and nature around us lifted the spirits of our team, even during the hard early phase of the pandemic when we were forced to temporarily close. Since June, we have been excited to welcome guests again and have been met with nothing but positive feedback on each and every one of our new sustainability measures. We look forward to introducing all of our returning as well as ‘new’ guests to our ambitious programme and are happily awaiting the reopening of borders to international travellers next year. If there is one thing this pandemic will hopefully have taught us, is that we must learn to co-exist with nature with humility and respect. A good start… is certainly going local with conscious travel.
During the last year, we have set up partnerships with many local NGOs and social enterprises, who have been selected for their mutual concerns to protect the environment. We have uplifted the younger generation and provided safe havens for endangered species, be it in the rainforest or at sea. We have worked with local schools to educate children on green practices. We have built fish aggregating devices and created coral nurseries at the bay in front of #TheDataiLangkawi and we’ve strengthened our efforts to eliminate single-use plastic from the resort and reached our goal of zero waste to landfill. Through these measures and a host of many more in just over a year, we have managed to save hundreds of thousands of plastic and glass bottles from being discarded, created our own herbs in our permaculture garden using organic waste composting, recycled and upcycled tonnes of items used in our resort operations, and we even have managed to outreach the vulnerable local population.”
#49 POSTCARD FROM NAMIBIA from Tristan Cowley @ultimatesafaris
“The pandemic has allowed us all to refocus on what is important — and at Ultimate Safaris, instilling conservation buy-in at a grassroots level is essential. The launch of our Young Defenders programme, a dedicated conservation-appreciation course (which tends to attract ages 12—15), is designed to take students into the wilderness to learn about the environment and the importance of protecting it — and this has been an extraordinarily important silver lining for us. Filling empty camps with enthusiastic youngsters has brought about new energy and enthusiasm for everyone involved.
Disadvantaged youngsters can be sponsored for as little as £200 for a week-long course, which includes accommodation, board, transport and the presentation of all the content. More privileged young folks can join thanks to the investment from their families, and the combining of two very different sets of children from contrasting backgrounds has a profoundly positive impact on their own development and perspectives. For more information, and to support our conservation work, go to our charity's website conservationtravelfoundation.org.”
#50 POSTCARD FROM GREENLAND from Alex McNeil @quarkexpeditions
“Greenland has been relatively untouched by the pandemic, with the total number of cases only just in double digits. The main consequence has been the near-disappearance of visitors. Restaurants and bars have remained open and, understandably, masks are rarely seen. The government’s Covid-19 management strategy for visitors has been effective. To be allowed into the country, the world’s largest island, here in the North Atlantic Ocean, a negative test result is required up to 72 hours before arrival. Then there's a five-day ‘humane quarantine’ where guests can leave their hotel for walks outdoors, with a retest on day five.
Our small team was able to visit last August to meet with our Greenlandic friends to finalise plans for our Greenland Adventure voyages, taking place this summer. These trips bring a new dimension to community engagement in expedition travel, fully planned and developed in collaboration with the Greenlandic Inuit. We are optimistic that by July, borders will be open. Come hear local stories from those who have lived them and taste the crowberries, blueberries, angelica, wild thyme, fresh Arctic char and famous South Greenlandic roast lamb that distinguish the local cuisine. The pioneering spirit of Greenland comes alive through heli-hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and visiting the Greenland ice sheet. Ensuring a social and economic benefit to local communities is at the heart of these authentic, immersive experiences suited to all abilities, and these trips invite visitors to experience Greenland in all its majesty, like never before.”
#51 POSTCARD FROM PORTUGAL from Luis Araujo @VisitPortugal
"In 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, we decided to focus on people. Our tourists: who needed clear information on how to arrive, or even to leave, and what to do in which conditions. Our labour force: helping our once-thriving tourism companies survive, so they could face the present, while preparing for the future, able to answer new demands from clients. And our residents: by bringing solidarity to those in need.
With this in mind, we launched several initiatives. Our Hotel Schools provided 2,500 meals a day to those in need, and more than 4,000 nights in hotels have been given to hospital staff. Online training has hosted 80,000 participants over eight months. The Clean and Safe stamp now applies to more than 23,000 establishments. Mobilised to overcome the immediate situation, we have also considered what the future could be.
This time has brought lessons: it's shown how fragile our sector is, how dependant we are from other activities and how desperately we need movement to perform. We approach the future with great responsibility, creating conditions to act in a more coordinated way, protecting ourselves and those who visit us from around the world, and caring for the planet. Our commitment is to promoting a destination that is engaged in more sustainable activity, and we take great pride in highlighting why our landscapes, our practices and our service are all suited to a more responsible traveller. Why? Because this is the time to make things better for everyone. Because #TomorrowIsToday.”"When Covid first hit Ethiopia, there was a tendency for all hotels to dismiss staff. At our lodge, the highest in Africa, we found ways to avoid this. All 52 staff were retained on full pay but given different duties through a major six-month remodelling.
#52 POSTCARD FROM ETHIOPIA from Nick Crane @simienlodge
Simien Lodge is perched high on the Simien escarpment in Ethiopia at 3,260 metres altitude. This makes it the highest place to sleep in Africa, by far, apart from the mountain refuges on Kilimanjaro. Since there were no clients, we decided to carry out a more extensive renovation than was originally planned, including refitting, retiling, and renovating literally every room and the communal areas.
These times also allowed for different kinds of activities. A recent fashion shoot was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the diversity of Ethiopia's culture and design and these fabulous cotton-weave clothes. These images showcase what makes Ethiopia so unique, and we hope they will help encourage tourists to return.
The Simiens, and indeed all of northern Ethiopia, remain largely Covid-free. Ethiopia was quick to implement mask-wearing and social distancing. Despite its large population of more than 100 million people, most people in towns obeyed the rules. Maybe this is because the Director-General of @WHO is Ethiopian and was advising his government from the start of the pandemic. The discipline in the country also stems from years of authoritarian regimes and strict religious instruction. Most Ethiopians either stick to the rules of the Ten Commandments if they are Christian or the Koran if they are Muslim.
We are confident that tourists will return with a rush once they are vaccinated. And remote locations such as the Simien Mountains will be high on the list of the most sought-after places."
#53 POSTCARD FROM SINGAPORE @DavenWu, freelance writer
“There are times when I wonder just how any business in Singapore is surviving, much less one such as the hotel and hospitality industry which depends almost entirely on tourists. During the lockdown – from early April to about mid-June 2020 – everything that didn’t relate to food and certain essential services — such as haircuts! — came to a standstill.
The social and financial costs of COVID is beyond reckoning. The number of international visitors plunged from 1.69 million in January 2020 to just 8,912 in August. So many businesses, especially restaurants, have shuttered. But Singaporeans are nothing if not hardy and adaptable. And the government has been incredibly supportive with financial schemes.
The hotels are mostly still hanging on, rolling out attractive staycation packages. The swanky Raffles and Capella can’t keep up with demand, while boutique properties such as Samadhi Villa are doing a respectable trade in weekend wellness retreats.
In restaurants and hawker centres, tables are socially distanced and capped at eight diners each, but this isn’t deterring Singaporeans who have piles of unspent holiday cash to spend. The newly-opened Euphoria where the set dinner is S$258 per head before taxes is booked out a month in advance. An online baker charges S$65 for five small pastries.
So, in many ways, life is as ‘normal’ as it can be under these awful circumstances. There is no delusion about the cost of the virus, but the unspoken motto seems to be, ‘Well, you gotta eat.’”
#54 POSTCARD FROM SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES from Matt Semark, @petitstvincent
"When we had to shut down the resort in March 2020 due to the pandemic, we knew that our guests would be disappointed that their holiday would need to be postponed, but we also had our eyes on the bigger picture: supporting our staff through the shutdown. With a little creativity — waitstaff-turned-gardeners, bartenders utilising their carpentry skills — we're pleased to say that we were able to keep everyone on the payroll.
We also found that we had ample time to dedicate to some of our sustainability projects, such as our coral nursery, which is something that guests typically help with. Our coral regeneration project is now thriving! In partnership with the Philip Stephenson Foundation and CLEAR Caribbean, we have constructed a coral nursery using fragments of Elkhorn coral collected from around the island. Once grown, the outcrops of juvenile coral will be used to repopulate nearby reefs on the Atlantic side of the island.
And now that our doors have reopened — as of 1 November — our staff are back at their usual posts and thrilled to be welcoming guests to the resort again.”
#55 POSTCARD FROM AFGHANISTAN from Ernesto Rollando @ISHKAR.co
“From Afghanistan, it’s hard to see the pandemic like everyone else. After 40 years of almost continuous war, only the eldest have lived peaceful times in this country. For the youth striving for a better future, this came as a hard blow, but one of many.
Alishah and Sajjad are Afghanistan’s ski pioneers, and most recently they became the most renowned local guides in Bamiyan, their hometown. Famous for its Buddha's niches and superb Koh-e Baba mountains, Bamiyan is the most promising tourist destination for a country wanting to write a new chapter away from gruesome headlines. With the number of foreign tourists growing year by year, their hopes couldn’t have been higher. Then, the pandemic came, and the number of travellers dropped.
While some intrepid adventurers still managed to travel to Bamiyan, the two had to find other forms of work. Sajjad joined the @WorldFoodProgramme to deliver food aid to those most in need. His hard-fought fluency in English was precious for the @unitednations mission. Alishah took part in the High Ventures mountaineering expedition to Mount Noshaq, Afghanistan’s highest peak at 7,492m. The group was the first Afghan-only attempt and a historic success.
Their stories inspire determination regardless of circumstance. We hope that this inspires others to look at Afghanistan from a different perspective, and maybe visit the Band-e Amir National Park, the ancient city of Shahr-e Gholghola and discover a culture characterised by its unique sense of hospitality.”
#56 POSTCARD FROM ECUADOR from Roque Sevilla @MashpiLodge @MetropolitanTouring
“Despite the heartbreak and hardship, in Ecuador that spirit of solidarity so intrinsic to the culture in our indigenous Andean towns — known here as ‘minga’ — has spread through coast, rainforest, cities, highlands and villages, bringing us together. We launched the POR TODOS crowdfunding initiative back in April to support Ecuador’s most vulnerable communities. More than US$8 million was raised in weeks, with contributions from all corners of the country — displaying this solidarity which makes me so proud of the land I call home. Tourism is a lifeline to so many communities here. Especially in places such as the Galapagos Islands, where they’re also reliant on it to fund conservation and scientific research.
Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Metropolitan Touring, but this enforced pause afforded us time to reflect on how to better ourselves. Up in the cloud forest at Mashpi, we’ve been progressing our Forest Guardians project with a wonderful organisation called @RainforestCX. Their pioneering eco-acoustic monitoring technology allows us to better understand our forests and protect them from threats such as logging. In the Galapagos, while we’ve seen wildlife such as orcas close up to our boats, showing us how nature is thriving, we’ve also been advancing towards better protecting our oceans and fragile marine ecosystems from international fishing, with a plan for a protected marine reserve from Costa Rica to Ecuador.
There's a sense of optimism. We have a long road ahead but with the vaccine roll-out beginning and a better grasp of how to handle the virus, I feel positive that it won’t be long before guests return to the haven of biodiversity that is Ecuador. And we will all be able to move forward more sustainably minded, grateful for all that we have.”
#57 POSTCARD FROM MONGOLIA from Nancy Johnston @houseoftengri
"Mongolia is an enduring place of extremes. One of the world’s least densely populated countries, there are more animals than people. The majestic beauty of its landscapes, extraordinary wildlife, and centuries of nomadic living contrasts with a dynamic and progressive urban city centre that continues to shape a new cultural identity, new market economy, in a relatively new democracy. The small population of 3 million is split into two: city dwellers and nomadic herder families. A prompt response to Covid in the early stages meant less than a handful of casualties in the country, but those in the city have lost jobs and tourism has suffered severely from no foreign visitors.
Mongolia’s unique ecosystem and the interplay between humans, nature and animals rewards us not only with the beauty of its land, but it supplies the global luxury market with the precious yarn made from the fibres of the rare native yak. Covid's slowdown has meant a loss of income and trade. Working in partnership with nomadic herder families, our social enterprise strives to maintain global trade, support indigenous communities and livelihoods.
Responsible tourism promotes the preservation of a nomadic way of life, land and wildlife conservation is crucial to the region. By hosting sustainable luxury expeditions Tengri Travel’s trips support conservation of culture and nature. We’re looking to the future, where we can share unique once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and where we can travel while doing good, just as soon as the world opens up again.”
#58 POSTCARD FROM FINLAND from @anttomelasniemi and @myhelsinki
"This winter in Helsinki has been beautiful with all the snow. We live close to nature — wild forests, stunning sea and islands are all easily accessible — and this time has at least allowed us to spend plenty of time outdoors. In Helsinki's centre, it is possible to walk on ice, with a national park a few minutes away.
It's been stirring to see this challenging time bring our restaurant industry together. Everyone is trying new things and collaborations such as Raising HEL founded by 12 restaurateurs, sees culinary experts working together, keeping us all connected. Food-takeaway kiosks have popped up around the city with experimental new restaurant and food concepts being designed. Our national airline Finnair has also made its hugely popular blueberry juice available in supermarkets across Finland. This initiative allows grounded Finns a taste of travel while they are unable to take to the skies for their blueberry juice fix.
The first Helsinki Biennial is coming up — an art event taking place on a remote island in front of the city 12 June—26 September 2021. I will be working with artist Rirkrit Tiravanija to create an installation with mushrooms for a one-week event, which will see nature combined with art, cuisine and creativity. Nature at its wildest is what Finland does best!”
#59 POSTCARD FROM OMAN from Gauderic Harang @sixsenseszighybay
“During the pandemic, Oman has taken every possible step to protect its people with border closures, curfews and restrictions since March 2020. While this meant we had to close the resort, our hosts have still been keeping busy.
We have completed the refurbishment of our three- and four-bedroom villas, worked on an industry-leading carbon neutral standard and we've loved creating engaging content for #AtHomeWithSixSenses, which allowed us to share the spirit of our resort in a different way. We also have an on-site organic garden, and our farm with livestock to take care of, and a working date plantation to harvest. For us, there was never the option of just switching off the lights.
In terms of how Covid has affected trends in travel, it's made people reflect on how important it is to connect with themselves, nature and discover what the planet has to offer, while keeping its health front of mind. As with all Six Senses resorts, wellness is in our DNA, and with the vaccine roll-out and the resulting easing of restrictions, we’re hopeful that we will be able to reopen soon and invite guests back with us on our journey to a healthier world.”
#60 POSTCARD FROM WALES from Sian Tucker, part of the family behind fforest, and author of the book ‘fforest: Being, doing & making in nature’ @coldatnight @fforest
“It has been a tough year for everyone, but we are lucky; we live amongst nature. Appreciating nature and the simple pleasures has always been part of what we are at fforest. The enforced pause has been difficult but it has reinforced our relationship with the natural world. We have had time to be still, to listen, look and feel. Embracing the quiet, the clear skies, cold air of winter and now first warmth and early shoots of spring.
With the normal mechanics of life interrupted, nature has come to say hello to us. We have seen and heard birds we've never seen before, the wild deer have ventured up to graze in the fields next to our domes and outside the farmhouse at dawn. Red foxes are playing, badgers snuffling. A barn owl is nesting in a disused barn for the first time in 10 years. Just now, we can see snowdrops, Welsh daffodils, and slowly emerging bluebells, which will be in flower, in cobalt blue carpets when our guests can return. We have been busy making many improvements, a lot of landscaping, enhancing the accommodation, improving paths, our vegetable garden, removing ivy from trees, clearing some of the thickets of brambles to reveal the wildflowers beneath.
We've always encouraged living closely with nature. With lockdown, there's a new appreciation of the benefits of even a walk in the park for all aspects of health. For the few weeks we could open last summer, it was great — and a little moving — to see old friends and new enjoying what we have built, relishing the special, simple things we have always had in Wales, at fforest, and to differing degrees in all our own backyards — nature. We have had the challenge of looking after a business and managing the frustrations of guests who have had to postpone holidays, events, weddings. But we've had some rare pleasures and insights that will stay with us. We cannot wait to welcome and share what we have here again, and we will do what we can to help nature say hello more often.”
#61 POSTCARD FROM BARBADOS from Richard Williams, Chairman, Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism
“Barbados is just a little island, 21 miles by 14 miles, but in some things, Rhianna included, it punches way above its weight class. The energetic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Mia Mottley recognised early on, the threat posed by Covid and although the country was locked down from April to June last year, things started to return to normal from July.
Barbadians — universally known as ‘Bajans’ — are easy-going in nature, but we appreciate structure in civilian life. The closure of the country was altogether a new experience. With borders closed, tourism ceased, which caused lay-offs in the hospitality industry across all neighbouring Caribbean islands. With tourism the major economic driver, the impact on the economy was immediate and severe, yet with limited cases and few deaths, the virus was managed. Families adjusted as schooling transitioned online, as sports and socialising came to a standstill. Public places introduced social distancing and masks became de rigueur.
In July, the Prime Minister was looking for ways to restart the tourism economy. Recognising the global emergence of everyone working from home, she announced the introduction of a 12-month Welcome Stamp visa, offering individuals the opportunity to work remotely from Barbados, while enjoying tropical-island benefits. The visa programme was a hit, with knock-on benefits to the real-estate industry with new arrivals renting properties, as well as giving a sense of hope to the wider community.
A tough year and the stress of the pandemic has led many of us residents anticipating the growing necessity to improve sustainability. In November, I became Chairman of not-for-profit, CAST; through corporate sponsorship, we sustain our activities enabling us to implement educational and training programmes with a long-term view. Tourism will recover and with vaccines now available in Barbados, Bajans are hopeful that the end is in sight.”
