Eco Luxury Camps and Lodges in the World

The aim of Luxury Camps & Lodges of the World (LCL World) is to promote tourism enterprises that aim at combining the concepts of sustainable economics and high quality.
But what does ‘sustainable tourism’ mean? According to Herman Daly (World Bank): “New theories concerning sustainable development and ecological economics introduce a new paradigm, in which the economy is no longer based on the two parameters of ‘work’ and ‘capital’ but in which we have an ecological economy that recognizes the existence of three parameters: work, ‘natural capital’ and the ‘capital produced by mankind’.”
And if by ‘natural capital’ we refer to natural systems (seas, rivers, lakes, forests, fauna, flora) and also agricultural products, seafood, game captured by hunters and the cultural and artistic heritage of a territory, we can easily understand the fundamental importance of investing in such matters.

On the one hand, the pace and rhythm of exploitation should be equal to the speed with which such resources are regenerated (i.e., ensuring a  sustainable yield and productivity), while on the other hand the pace at which waste products are produced should reflect the natural capacity of ecosystems and the environment to absorb such substances. Capacities of regeneration and absorption must be treated as natural capital.”

Prof. Jeffrey  D. Sahs (Columbia University) suggests the problem should be seen in a wider context: “… the growth of the population and the economy, the warming of the atmosphere, drought, typhoons, El Nino, the scarcity of water, and the extinction of animals and plant life and so on: such environmental issues will be the strategic challenges of the 21st century. However there are no tangible signs that indicate the world’s governments are really doing much about it. People who talk about famine and environmental crises are seen as confused ‘moralists’, as opposed to the ‘realists’, who talk about war and peace. […] Every world government should have its own Ministry for Sustainable Development dedicated to regulating interaction between environmental change and the welfare of the population. […] By focusing on the basic issues posed by the need for sustainable development, political authorities can solve the current crisis and avoid problems in the future.”
Over the last few decades, tourism has played an increasingly important role in worldwide economical development. However, it has also actively contributed to the destruction of vast areas of forest and the transformation of thousands of kilometres of coastline into concrete jungles with the consequent deterioration of historic centres, the looting of archaeological sites, the spoiling of ancient monuments, leaving some of the world’s most precious landscapes utterly scarred.

However, I believe the issue should not be considered solely in such terms, removing tourism from its general context, as in recent times, tourism has also been regulated by territorial plans drawn up by governments. Tourism has undoubtedly stimulated economic progress but it has tended to adopt obsolete models of development which have destroyed and continue to jeopardise the natural resources which constitute the basis of its entire rationale, in many cases causing irreparable damage to the environment.

You may have had the experience at least once in your life of visiting a wonderful place, which, only a few years later, on returning, seems to have changed beyond recognition. The landscape has changed, the former workshops of local artisans have been replaced by department stores, the countryside and the woods have disappeared to make way for motorways and enormous hotels, the archaeological sites and natural areas are partially inaccessible or closed as territorial exploitation has caused irreparable damage to the delicate equilibrium of the environment, and the local community has begun to forget its traditions and is in the process of losing its cultural identity. If you know of a place like that, besides being disappointed, you will most likely decide never to go there again.

I am sure there is an ever-increasing number of people in the world who have similar stories to tell.
But what will happen to the most beautiful places in the world if the model of development remains the same? More importantly, what model of development should we adopt?

Luxury Camps & Lodges of the World selects and promotes tourist enterprises that are developing yet another concept. Besides being ‘sustainable economy laboratories’, they develop products with very high standards of quality: ‘Eco-luxury’.
Such experiences eventually led to my decision to create a ‘community centre’ - the very first of its kind - for this particular genre within the world of tourism, where the owners of lodges, camps and hotels and their organizations might be effectively promoted. I trust that ‘Luxury Camps and Lodges of the World’ has been instrumental in stimulating contact between the providers of ‘eco-luxury’ tourism opportunities to allow for the development of new synergies within the field of environmental sustainability. Our aim has also been to promote a consultancy service for those interested in the creation of sustainable tourist accommodation throughout the world. 

Over the years I have gained experience in a variety of fields including archaeological research, speaking at conferences and seminars and lecturing at university, and have also travelled extensively throughout Italy and in other countries around the world. The knowledge I acquired by working in these fields finally blended and combined in the year 2000 with my 16 years of experience as an international tour operator when I began working on a sustainability project for a park which won the ‘Environmental Recognition Award’ at the London ‘World Travel Market’ in 2003.  With this project we were able to demonstrate that a small structure created to provide accommodation for travellers could be a viable and ‘sustainable’ activity for both the park itself and also in purely business and economic terms. It was also ascertained that it is possible to establish an effective agreement between the governing body responsible for the park and a technically qualified organization, introducing specific operational standards, the violation of which would immediately jeopardise the existence of the private organization involved. It was seen moreover that high standards of service allow for the generation of profit margins which enable a private organization to earmark funds for the protection of a park and its natural environment.

In order to improve the standards which would be suitable for this kind of project I dedicated a considerable amount of time travelling around the world to meet such ‘visionaries’ who have created authentic ‘sustainable tourism laboratories’ and have introduced processes and strategies specifically aimed at protecting the natural environment and actively supporting local communities.
I discovered en route some quite extraordinary people with whom I was able to discuss my own experiences and exchange ideas.
What emerged from my encounters was that many of these innovators had created environmentally sustainable activities on their own without having read any books on the subject and that they were experimenting new and increasingly sophisticated management processes.
I also found that these people were often unaware of the existence of similar projects around the world.

I also came across people who considered themselves as ‘friends of  ecology’ on account of their having planted four trees in a garden. At a certain lodge I met some people who had left a sign close to the communal wash basins issuing the peremptory command “Don’t waste water when cleaning your teeth!” At this location, even the staff were unaware of directives relating to the need to save drinking water!

LCL World is currently the only global brand that has adopted this mission and it is for this reason that we included international partners that assign sustainability and eco-compatibility certificates.
As a consequence, admission standards have also been made more stringent in terms of both quality and sustainability.
For 2007 a total of 89 affiliated structures have been selected, and with respect to the 70 lodges listed in 2006, 42 of these structures are in fact new Members.
The pages allotted to associated Members provide an ample range of information, photos and an indication of their commitment to sustainable tourism.

In this respect, the following new Members are worthy of note:
The CCAfrica-Taj Group is the first organization to export the ‘African model’ abroad, and to India in particular, a country which has readily accepted this revolutionary approach.
The Aga Khan Foundation invested in the Shigar Fort Lodge, which is not only unique in architectural terms but is also located in an extraordinary geographical area close to the Indus river and not far from the second highest peak in the world, the K2. The restoration work, the hotel itself and the museum represent a model for governments and companies that care about the territorial heritage of their countries.
Sextantio is the first Italian project to combine high-quality service, exceptional architectural conservation project and preservation of local rural traditions in the heart of the Abruzzo National Park.
Other lodges that should be mentioned on account of their projects relating to eco-tourism are Sabi Sabi in South Africa, Nkwichi in Mozambique, Sindabezi in Zambia, Cottars 1920’s Safari Camp in Kenya, Whitepod in Switzerland, Malikha Lodge in Myanmar (Burma), Nihiwatu in Indonesia, Morgan’s Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge and the Yacutinga Lodge in Argentina.
As far as quality is concerned, we should also draw the reader’s attention to Chief’s Camp in Botswana, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge in Tanzania, Al Maha in Dubai, Soneva Fushi Jungle Reserve, ‘Longitude 131’ hotel in Australia, Bedwell River Outpost in Canada, Pousada Maravilla in Brasil and Casas Rapa Nui in Chile.

Besides the pages dedicated to our Members, the new, 224-page directory also contains the eco-luxury manifesto.
We have updated the graphics in this new edition of the directory so as to place greater emphasis on our Members’ efforts in terms of environmental sustainability.

We wish to thank all of the 2006 Members who have been included in this year’s lists for their efforts to comply with the most recent standards adopted in terms of sustainability and quality, which represent the primary mission of LCL World.

It is thanks to their work too that the word tourism is gaining again dignity both for us and for future generations. 

Enrico Ducrot