Cooperation with the Bonn Convention
In 2005 TUI AG concluded a memorandum of understanding with the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).
The CMS was signed in Bonn in 1979 and is therefore also known as the Bonn Convention. The Convention Secretariat is sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). TUI carries out various activities every year to contribute to CMS protection measures.
2009: Year of the Gorilla
TUI has been supporting the Year of the Gorilla 2009 under the Bonn Convention (CMS), in partnership with the Great Ape Survival Project of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In June, TUI launched a new campaign in local communities in conjunction with its Kenyan subsidiary Pollman’s Tours & Safaris in order to raise public awareness about the endangered great apes and call for an end to the gradual destruction of their habitats.
In addition, a study will be implemented on the opportunities and threats posed by gorilla watching as a feature of eco-tourism.
2007/2008: Year of the Dolphin
As a founding partner of the "Year of the Dolphin 2007" campaign, which owing to its success was continued in 2008, TUI supports the goals of the CMS for protecting whales and dolphins. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) was also a cooperation partner.
Specific measures in the campaign:
- Distribution of a multi-language, child-oriented "Dolphin Manual“ in local schools and hotels in TUI destinations providing information on dolphins as well as feasible steps for their protection
- Performance of programme activities for the whole family in TUI hotels to create an awareness for "Dolphin protection"
- Sale of merchandising products to support selected dolphin protection projects
- Commitment in destinations
In Kenya, TUI and Pollmans Tours & Safaris together with local nature conservation organisations initiated awareness campaigns aimed at the local population to inform tourism interest groups, boat pilots, fishermen and so on about the risks to dolphins and consequently to draw attention to the effects their activities are having on the habitat of the marine mammals.
Further activities:
- Commitment of local associations of boat providers to organise their future activities based on a code of conduct aimed at sustainability
- Training of boat providers in the application of this code of conduct
- Net exchange programme for fishermen in the coastal region of Watamu (free exchange of illegally used nets) to reduce the effects on marine biodiversity
On Tenerife TUI is supporting the talks for creating a cetacean protection area in the eastern Atlantic. The "WATCH Conference" (Western African Talks about Cetacean and their Habitats) initiated by the CMS brought together representatives of government and non-government organisations, science and business.
2006: Year of the Turtle
TUI supported the work done by the CMS in holiday destinations on the Indian Ocean and in South East Asia.
With the support of World of TUI tour reps, Year of the Turtle posters were put up in hotels and diving schools in order to raise public awareness of the endangered status of these animals and encourage the launch of activities to protect them.
At the same time, the TUI Code of Conduct for the Protection of Sea Turtles was communicated to all coastal destinations with sea turtle populations in order to raise the guests’ awareness. TUI AG supported programmes to collect sea turtle eggs in unsafe sections of beaches in Kenya and move them to safer places.