Summer Special

Item Description

Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, offering world-class adventure, relaxation and year-round diving and fishing on the Great Astrolabe Reef!

This package includes: All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, unlimited tea/coffee); Transportation to and from airport; Local fees or taxes; Local ground transportation.

Matava is committed to a style of travel that is environmentally, culturally and socially responsible travel. Matava's adventure style focuses on grassroots travel using local public transport where possible, and choosing locally owned accommodations, restaurants and markets to retain revenues in local communities. Matava's local crew and guides help guests understand local culture and etiquette. Small groups allow guests to experience local cultures first hand, encouraging greater cross-cultural understanding.

Matava is committed to giving back to the communities and regions we visit by supporting many aid, development and conservation projects in these areas. Much of this support is through The Matava Foundation and guests are invited to contribute. Matava's passion for travel goes beyond the yearning for discovery and adventure; it is a reasoned, tried and tested approach to the enjoyment of a truly amazing planet.

Matava has received: AAA Green Star, Project AWARE Environmental Achievement Award 2008, and PADI Asia Pacific Member Awards 2009 in the category Project AWARE Marine Environmental Award 2009

Item Special Note

There is a black out period 4 days before and after any major holiday or school vacation.

Matava's Sustainability Initiatives

Far from being an abstract ideal, Matava's Responsible Tourism Code of Conduct shapes all our major decisions - from the concept that 'Small Groups Leave Fewer Footprints' to the choice of contractors and suppliers. These include:

• Use locally owned infrastructure for accommodation and transport.
  
• Spread the financial benefits amongst local people and operators.
  
• Provide employment and leadership opportunities for local people.
  
• When recruiting staff and crew, assess their environmental credentials and then train them to our own standards.
  
• Respect local customs and culture.
  
• Provide safe trips for Matava, Mad Fish and Bite Me staff, crew and guests.
  
• Educate guests and local people about how we travel.
  
• Limit the negative impacts to daily lifestyles of local people not involved with Matava adventures and expeditions
  
• Provide guests with clear guidelines on responsible tourism. (These cover a variety of issues from litter and waste disposal in remote areas, to begging and artifacts. We encourage customers to buy local crafts and support local skills, but never to buy products that exploit wildlife or the harm the habitat.)
• Limit the physical impact of trips in all destination communities - particularly sensitive natural and cultural environments.
  
• Provide support for organisations and local communities around Matava and visited by Matava expeditions and adventures.
  
• Provide opportunities for guests to interact with local people.
  
• Support and encourage fair employment practices.

Learn more about Matava's responsible travel practices

Photos: Matava.com, Matava's Facebook Page

----------------------------------

If you need assistance with the purchase of this package or any other items on TIES eco-holiday auction: please contact ecoDestinations@ecotourism.org or +1 202-506-5033 x14.

If you are the successful bidder, you will receive an email from TIES with the certificate confirming your purchase within 24 hours of the auction close. All TIES eco-holiday auction items are valid for one year (excluding the blackout dates noted in the item description) unless otherwise stated. The winner will receive contact details of the trip provider(s) to make travel arrangements.

All proceeds raised from your purchase of this trip will go directly to The International Ecotourism Society to support their numerous projects in support of responsible travel worldwide.