Balesin Island Club feted in 14th UNWTO Awards

BALESIN Island Club was awarded 2nd place in the Innovation in Enterprises category, beating out 12 other finalists from around the world, in the recently held United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism. The awarding ceremony took place on Jan. 17 at the International Tourism Trade Fair in Madrid, Spain.

The UNWTO Awards recognizes the work of individuals and organizations from around the globe that have positively contributed to the growth of the tourism sector. The finalists of the event are selected for implementing projects that are in line with the standards set in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Balesin Island Club, Alphaland Corporation’s flagship project, has also been recognized as a Gold Partner in UNWTO’s International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development in 2017. Situated on a 500-hectare island off the Pacific coast of the Philippines, with 7.3 kilometers of pristine, white-sand beach, Balesin’s master plan was done by EcoPlan of Miami, Florida, USA, with sustainability in mind.

Balesin’s sustainability program, called the Three-Pillar Innovation initiative, focuses on Technological Innovation, Sustainable Consumption, and Human Empowerment—“A triple bottom-line model of tourism that addresses the needs of people, planet, and profit,” explained Joshua Torres, Alphaland’s director of Sustainability Projects.

Recognizing the value of technology in its pursuit of sustainable tourism, Balesin has invested in a rainwater harvesting system wherein rainwater runoff from the 1,530-meter concrete runway is channeled into storage lagoons around the island. The harvested rainwater is processed via ultrafiltration into potable drinking water and distributed throughout the resort. Meanwhile, used water is recycled into Class A greywater and used in maintaining the Club’s lush landscape during dry months. Also, Balesin has invested in electric golf carts used as the main means of transport around the island in efforts of reducing carbon footprint and gasoline usage annually.

Balesin maintains several agricultural plantations: an organic herb farm, a banana plantation, a fruit and vegetable farm, and a grape orchard. Aside from this, it also practices aquaculture to supply its crab, sea bass, and freshwater fish used in its restaurants, and maintains a free-range duck farm that produces eggs.

Balesin incorporates sustainability practices in its day-to-day operations, especially in its waste management. Nonbiodegradable waste is collected by the Club to sell to local junk shops while biodegradable waste is turned into compost for plantation operations.