NEWS

Cousin Island

• Seychelles voted Best Beaches and Best Resorts by Travellers World Magazine
• Second Hilton resort to open in Seychelles
• Maia Luxury Resort and Spa, Seychelles
• Wilderness Safaris sells North Island in Seychelles

More Related Articles...

Cousin Island in Seychelles has started campaigning as the world's first "carbon neutral natural reserve" at the national 2010 Tourism Expo. Eco-tourists flying in from abroad are assured carbon dioxide emissions from their flights are not released there.

In Victoria yesterday, the President James Michel launched Seychelles' 2010 Tourism Expo and stood in the light of the Indian Ocean archipelago's increased focus on biodiversity and eco-tourism.

In this context, the Expo included the launching of Cousin Island as "the world's first carbon neutral natural reserve" by Nirmal Shah, leader of Nature Seychelles, the national body that runs the reserve.

Cousin Island already receives thousands of tourists every year. "Realizing the  environmental impact of these visitors, a majority of them visiting from Europe and reaching the island by boat, and subsequent to media reports in Europe suggesting citizens not to travel to long haul destinations like Seychelles, Nature Seychelles was prompted to arrive at the decision of making the reserve carbon neutral," according to Mr Shah.

Seychellois President Michel yesterday was highly appreciative of the world's first carbon neutral tourism destination. "The carbon neutral initiative taken by Nature Seychelles is a very positive feature. It is the first such project in the world, that once again demonstrates Seychelles’ leadership on environmental matters and conservation," said the President.

President Michel further assured additional developments of Seychelles as an eco-tourism destination. He pointed out that at present Seychelles boasts of the world's highest percentage of protected area, and Silhouette Island's latest declaration as a nature reserve brings Seychelles to 47 percent - he expected that soon more than 50 percent of the country would be dedicated to protection.

Eco-tourism and biodiversity was undoubtedly going to be "the future of the Seychelles brand," a government statement said. "Our tourism industry depends on our capacity and attitude to protect the natural beauty of our islands," President Michel added.