Over the last several years, there has been increased interest in ecotourism. To meet the rising demand for eco-friendly properties, several developers have begun to undertake enormous projects in an effort to protect the environment and to serve this very specific need.
Dubai World Africa recently announced plans to invest over $200 million into a luxury beach resort. The Bilene Hotel is a luxury facility which includes golfing and some of Mozambique's most sought after beachfront properties. Just north of Maputo, a very common holiday destination, this resort spans the Martinho Lagoon. This lagoon is a nature preserve and serves as breeding ground for leatherback sea turtles.
Dubai World has made it their goal to continue maintaining this preserve and protecting the environment and its inhabitants. The investments being made in Mozambique by Dubai World are bound to boost the local economy as well as encourage more developers to focus on conservation. Tourism is an important industry in Africa. As the country continues to develop, it becomes obvious that eco-friendly building designs and materials are used in order to boost the tourism market.
Another area in the world that is beginning to shift focus to eco-developing is India. World famous resorts like Gulmarg and Pahalgam are expecting new five star hotels that are eco-friendly. Local hotels are expected to invest much in the tourism that will no doubt come from an increased focus on environmental friendliness. In addition to creating jobs and boosting the local economy, the utmost care is being used in order to ensure these five-star resorts have minimal impact on the environment.
The materials used in building these resorts will be of fine quality to say the least, but they will also be eco-friendly. Construction plans currently only call for buildings with a maximum of two floors. Since tourism has been identified as a key factor in pollution, the sanitation and sewage systems will be designed to limit impact on the local environment.