Nature Air

I don’t know about you, but I am often intimidated and overwhelmed by thoughts of climate change, conservation and sustainability. What can you do and where can you turn for some inspiration?

Natureair is a great story, and it is one about vision, perseverance and a dedication to conservation and service. Its Founder and CEO, Alex Khajavi, put it all on the line right after September 11^th, when he purchased a bankrupt Costa Rican airline and overcame some very tough odds along the way. Less than eights years later, it is an extraordinary accomplishment for this company to receive the prestigious Tourism for Tomorrow award, presented by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Alex Khajavi accepted the award at the Global Travel and Tourism Summit, held in Florianopolis, Brazil, May 14th-18th. He said, “It is an honor for us to receive this award from WTTC which is one of the only awards decided by the top 100 tourism companies in the world and that includes on-site audits that vet your sustainable projects. The award only inspires us to do more and continue to chase sustainability, and we hope that it also inspires others, most notably other airlines to take up the challenge on climate change and work to reduce and offset their emissions.”

Sustainable practices and fighting climate change can be a personal decision to begin recycling in your home, or it can be about an airline in Costa Rica. It is the intention and not the scale of the effort that matters. Ultimately, individuals make these choices, whether they are CEO’s or single parent householders. So, this is an opportunity to thank individuals like Alex Khajavi for creating a company that makes a difference by operating responsibly with respect for the environment and the community, basic principles of sustainability.

Jean-Claude Baumgarten, WTTC President and CEO summed up their story very well at the awards ceremony. “In 2004, Natureair made a highly ambitious pledge to set new standards for sustainable practices in the airline industry, compensating for 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions through preservation and reforestation of tropical forests in the Osa Peninsula. And it has not only fulfilled this pledge, but has also implemented a whole host of other effective sustainable policies and activities, including community benefit outreach programs.”

The need to travel and explore is basic to our nature. The curiosity to know what is just beyond the horizon, at the top of a mountain or at the bottom of the ocean, has driven us for millennia. The travel and tourism industries have empowered millions of us to experience the elation felt by early explorers when they first came upon the magnificence and abundance of places like the Osa Peninsula. These modern experiences expose us to the crying need to act responsibly, especially in light of the damage done from over development. The recently held summit was a tremendous opportunity for the sharing of ideas and strategies regarding responsible travel.

Alexi Huntley, Commercial Director for Natureair, was also at the gathering and had the following observations, “This event was the pinnacle of strategic thinking and innovation in tackling challenging issues like climate change, the global recession and even the impact of pandemics on our industry. The industry employs over 225 million people worldwide and represents 10% of global GDP. The ambience was electric, and it was a pleasure to see the Minister of Tourism from Botswana on stage with the CEO of Marriott. While strategies might be different, the goals are common to everyone in attendance.”