TUI Care Foundation to Plant a ‘TUI Forest’ on Rhodes, Greece

Lindos, Rhodes.

The TUI Care Foundation, an independent charity that exists to use tourism as a force for good and transformation, plans to carry out a reforestation project on the Greek island of Rhodes in close cooperation with the Region of South Aegean.

Announced on the sidelines of TUI Group’s recent international management conference held on the island, the project will begin in 2024 and sees the planting of native, fire-tolerant trees for a future TUI Forest.

The TUI Forest is being developed as part of the Destination Co-Lab Rhodes, an initiative of TUI Group, TUI Care Foundation, the Region of South Aegean and the Greek government to develop Rhodes into a sustainable holiday destination.

“The South Aegean includes some of the most popular holiday destinations for TUI’s guests… We are proud to be one of the founders of this pioneering initiative, both as a company and with the independent TUI Care Foundation. Sustainability is a top priority for TUI,” TUI Group CEO Sebastian Ebel said.

South Aegean Region Governor George Chatzimarkos and TUI Group CEO Sebastian Ebel on Rhodes. Photo source: TUI Group

As part of the project, nature-based tourism experiences will be developed for the local population and for holidaymakers. According to the TUI Care Foundation, the project will create new jobs in the field of nature conservation and sustainable tourism. Moreover, educational programs on environmental protection and sustainability are being developed for children and young people.

“With the Destination Co-Lab Rhodes, we are pursuing a holistic approach to the sustainable transformation of tourism on the island. Forests are investments in the future. Their full impact on biodiversity and resilience unfolds over a period of decades,” TUI Care Foundation Chairman Thomas Ellerbeck said.

On his part, South Aegean Region Governor George Chatzimarkos highlighted that sustainability transformation has become more important than before due to the new reality of climate change.

“We need to adjust… Our collaboration with TUI Group and Destination Co-Lab Rhodes can play an important role in this… The TUI Forest is only a part of our Co-Lab strategy and biodiversity is our joint commitment to future generations,” Chatzimarkos said.

TUI Forests program

The TUI Forest Rhodes will be part of the international TUI Forests program of the TUI Care Foundation. By planting trees, TUI Forests are created worldwide, creating new natural habitats and giving the local population as well as holidaymakers the opportunity to rediscover the natural forest environment.

The TUI Care Foundation recently launched a TUI Forest in Mallorca as part of an extensive reforestation project announced with the Balearic government. Photo source: TUI Care Foundation

“Our goal is to plant at least five million trees in TUI forests around the world over the next three years. Such initiatives show that tourism is a driver of positive change – today, in the medium and in the long term,” TUI Care Foundation Chairman Thomas Ellerbeck added.

TUI customers in Germany, the UK and the Netherlands can support the TUI Forests Program of the TUI Care Foundation by adopting a tree when booking travel on the respective TUI websites. Tree adoptions will also soon be available for bookings at TUI travel agencies. Other TUI markets are working on their introduction.

TUI Hellas represents TUI in Greece.