JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa’s General Manager, who is also Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation’s President, Oriol Montal said: “It is wonderful to see Phuket’s society actively working together to help the area’s turtle population and to promote sustainable marine tourism.
The groundbreaking honour was given to a group of 20 children and their parents from the Gecko Community in Thalang, who have been learning about endangered marine species and are on a mission to raise awareness of sustainable marine tourism. The groundbreaking of the new Marine Turtle Shelter & Education Centre was the first stop on the children’s ‘Ride for Sustainable Marine Tourism’ activity which then saw them continue on an 85-km journey by bicycle north to JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort and Spa.
The ride was also to help raise funds for the children to fly to Taiji in Japan at the end of January where, as the first ever Kid Cove monitors, they will actively assist the Dolphin Project initiative which is working to stop the slaughter and capture of wild dolphins.
JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort and Spa, Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation and Gecko Community are all working together to promote sustainable marine tourism.
Due to open in conjunction with the 6th Mai Khao Turtle Release during Songkran this year, the Marine Turtle Shelter & Education Centre will be located at JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa donated by the resort and its owning company, the Minor Corporation.