• TUI Sea the Change Aruba partners with ScubbleBubbles Foundation to restore 6000 m2 coral reefs and raise awareness about marine conservation to 35,000 tourists and local communities
• TUI Sea the Change Bali increases the size of its 2000 m2-large coral restoration site through a newly established coral adoption programme
• Programmes are launched as part of TUI Care Foundation’s Marine May, which emphasises the importance of marine conservation

Berlin, 28^th May 2024. Aruba is a popular tourist destination known for its stunning white-sand beaches, beautiful coral reefs and vibrant marine life, attracting over a million visitors annually. The health of its marine environment is crucial for both the natural ecosystem and the island’s economy and thriving tourism sector. However, Aruba’s reefs are undergoing significant degradation, threatening marine biodiversity and affecting reef-associated tourism. Locals and visitors often lack knowledge about corals and, whilst they are eager to learn, opportunities for education are scarce. TUI Sea the Change Aruba focuses on preserving this vulnerable ecosystem by conserving corals and educating both the Aruban community and tourists about ocean conservation. 

In the Caribbean alone, reef-associated tourism generates over $7.9 billion annually from more than 11 million visitors. Coral reefs not only provide a crucial source of income for local communities but also provide an important ecosystem for life underwater and protect coastal areas from storms and erosion. However, like many reefs around the world, Aruba’s coral reefs are deteriorating at an alarming rate and are at risk of extinction. TUI Sea the Change Aruba seeks to protect and restore a total of 6,000 m2 seascapes around the island by using advanced technics in coral propagation and fragmentation. It establishes a coral reef restoration facility on De Palm Island that will enable the increase of coral species variety and the improvement of restoration methods. 

This facility will be the first of its kind in Aruba, making reef restoration more accessible to the local community, hospitality workers and eventually, tourists visiting the island. Daily facility tours, educational workshops and events like science nights will engage 35,000 tourists and 10,000 school children to raise awareness about the importance of coral reefs and foster a deeper understanding of marine conservation.

Hands-on activities, like helping with restoration work by cutting fragments and placing them on pucks, will empower visitors to play an active role in protecting the ocean environment. 

Organised tours will also offer guests the opportunity to visit the in-water nursery, outplant corals onto the reef and participate in guided snorkels and dives to explore the underwater world. Additionally, the project involves and educates local authorities and tour operators by organising information sessions and hands-on workshops.

TUI Sea the Change Aruba follows the model of TUI Sea the Change Bali, another programme focusing on coral restoration and education around marine conservation. In partnership with Livingseas Foundation, around 3,600 holidaymakers can visit the programme’s floating pontoon from where snorkelling and diving tours to the conservation reef site depart. The pontoon also serves as a venue for educational sessions and workshops where visitors can contribute to the site by building their own reef stars, a structure which holds and supports the growth of coral segments. To date, almost 2,000 square meters of reef stars have been installed in the seabed along Padangbai, which have contributed to the growth of a thriving marine ecosystem.

To further fund and grow the restoration site, a new coral adoption programme has been set up by the TUI Care Foundation. Donors from all around the world can donate with just a few clicks through the organisation’s website and a personalised reef star will be installed on the site on their behalf. A biodegradable bamboo tag is then attached to the reef start with a name or a message chosen by the donor.

The TUI Care Foundation's 'Marine May' is a month of activities dedicated to ocean preservation. Through a series of project launches and educational activities, it emphasises the importance of sustainable practices to safeguard marine ecosystems for local communities and generations to come.