MCRB and FFI held a week of multistakeholder workshops on sustainable tourism in Tanintharyi with a two day discussion focussed on Myeik District at the J&J Hotel on 15/16 May attended by around 60 local people involved in the tourism industry, and international and Myanmar tourism experts, followed by two days of discussion at Victoria Cliff Hotel in Kawthaung attended by around 90 stakeholders. Read more: http://www.myanmar-responsiblebusiness.org/news/tanintharyi-tourism-workshops.html

1. B E N C H M A D E A S I A (M Y A N M A R ) L T D
- WA ALE RESORT –
MYEIK ARCHIPELAGO, MYANMAR

2. TENDER PROCESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT
The Forestry Department held an open tender in June 2015 and advertised
in several Myanmar newspapers for the lease of land for development of
an eco-resort on the island of Wa Ale.
Christopher Kingsley of Benchmade Asia Pte Ltd., submitted a bid for the
acreage on Wa Ale against other local and international companies.
Benchmade Asia’s proposal included the development of a small eco-
resort that emphasized conservation with the commitment to give back to
the Lampi Marine National Park and local communities through an official
Foundation.
At the time of permitting in October 2015, all documents including an
Environmental Impact Assessment report (EIA) was submitted and
approved by the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC).
The Conservation Department of MONREC requested additional
information to supplement Benchmade Asia’s EIA in 2016. Benchmade Asia
is working with Eguard and will submit the addendum within 2 months.

3. WA ALE RESORTS
DEVELOPMENT AND INTENTION
Wa Ale Resorts is a privately owned company that is
developing a thoughtfully planned conservation resort
project that has been officially sanctioned by the Myanmar
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental
Conservation and The Ministry of Hotel and Tourism
Our intention is to develop 2 small eco-resorts on the island of
Wa Ale in the Lampi Marine National Park, that encourages
responsible and sustainable care for the environment and as
well as responsible tourism
Any development by Wa Ale Resorts intends to follow
stringent building codes and practices and adopt regional
and international standards for environmental protection and
regulation

4. WA ALE RESORTS COMMITMENT WITH
FORESTRY UNDER MIC PERMIT
• Strictly follow Forestry’s guidelines for sustainable development
and responsible business practice
• No cutting of large trees
• Protection of sand dunes
• No large piers constructed on coral reefs
• No major commercial laundry facilities
• Provide protection for turtle nesting on the island of Wa Ale
• Provide jobs for local communities and give back to the
community
• 20% of all Wa Ale Resorts profits will fund the Lampi Foundation
• 2% of all Wa Ale Resorts room revenue will help fund the Lampi
Foundation

5. I S L A N D O F W A A L E

6. W A A L E B E A C H E S – A R E A 1 A N D A R E A 2

7. WA ALE TENTED CAMP IN BEACH AREA 2
• Development: Wa Ale Tented Camp
• 15 tented villas on raised decking with minimal footprint
• 5 “forest huts” built under tree canopies on a low impact
platform and not attached or touching any trees
• Main pavilion with one F&B outlet and bar area
• Open-air wellness center for practicing yoga
• Dive center with certified dive instruction and RIB
transportation
• Turtle Hatchery and Education Center
• Location:
1km beach location on the southern side of Wa Ale Island in the
Lampi Marine National Park

8. W A A L E B E A C H – A R E A 2

9. W A A L E T E N T E D C A M P M A S T E R P L A N

10. T E N T E D C A M P V I L L A O N P L A T F O R M – A R E A 2

11. W A A L E T E N T E D C A M P – M A I N P A V I L I O N

12. PROPOSED RESORT IN BEACH AREA 1
2nd future development – Wa Ale Eco Villas
An eco-resort with 10 to 20 units dependent upon tree
placement. Under guidance of the Forestry Department, the
number of units will be determined upon more careful
examination
Each villa will be self sufficient with minimal energy usage with
an the environmentally friendly Kubota Johkasou waste water
treatment system. Resort will include:
• Main pavilion with one F&B outlet and bar area
• Open-air wellness center for practicing yoga
Location: On a 1 km beach west of Area 1 beach on the island
of Wa Ale

13. W A A L E E C O V I L L A S - B E A C H A R E A 1

14. WA ALE SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PRACTICES
Sustainable construction without use of piling equipment with a
focus on reducing waste, pollution and harm to the island’s
environment
90% of wood materials are recycled from old homes, warehouses
and boats from Myanmar
100 % of labour force for construction is from licensed Myanmar
building contractors and workers
50 % of energy at the camp is generated from solar energy
No digging of deep water wells. Water access is from an island
stream and rainwater harvesting. Waste water treatment system
using the Kubota Johkasou with the BOD removal ratio > 90%
recommended by Eguard

15. • Sea Turtle Conservation: Through Lampi Foundation, Wa Ale Resorts has developed a
conservation program and hatchery on the island of Wa Ale. In the past 2 years over 40 sea
turtle nests have been protected; including Leatherback Turtles, a species thought to have
disappeared from Myanmar. According to the WCS, this is an important scientific discovery in
Myanmar and will be published by them in scientific journals. With over 100 baby sea turtles per
nest, we have saved over 4000 sea turtles by guarding nests from poaching. Prior to Wa Ale
Resorts’ assignment of Wa Ale, Dr. Steven Platt of Wildlife Conservation Society’s 2012 Report
states that most turtle nests were being harvested by humans for the sale of the turtle eggs
• Coral Protection: Wa Ale Resorts will be installing sea moorings for dive boats and other vessels
within the Lampi Marine National Park to help preserve coral destruction by the anchors of local
fishing boats
• Local Employment: Wa Ale Resorts will be employing over 100 local people on a permanent
basis, encouraging the employees to act as the stewards of Lampi Marine National Park
• Charitable Donations: Through the Lampi Foundation, schools on Ma Kyone Galet and Salet
Galet have been repaired and provided supplies and desks. Medical supplies have also been
supplied to Ma Kyone Galet’s medical clinic and 3 weekend beach cleanups have been
organized by Wa Ale Resorts staff. Lampi Foundation has also provided a grant to the World
Conservation Society (WCS) to implement educational seminars for 3 local fishing villages on the
importance of saving sea turtles
CONSERVATION AND GIVING BACK

16. CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION
WCS Training on Wa Ale Sea Turtle Seminars

17. B E A C H C L E A N U P A T S A L E T G A L E T V I L L A G E

18. D O N A T I O N T O M A K Y O N E G A L E T V I L L A G E S C H O O L

19. LAMPI FOUNDATION
• The Lampi Foundation was founded by Wa Ale Resorts to help fund social welfare and
conservation projects in and around the Lampi Marine National Park in the Myeik
Archipelago
• The Foundation is funded through efforts of the Wa Ale Tented Camp and other
contributing partners; including Global Medical Volunteers and The Wildlife Conservation
Society(WCS)
• Working with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Ministry of Environmental
Conservation and Forestry of the Union of Myanmar; Lampi Foundation built the first sea
turtle hatchery in Lampi Marine National Park to help provide a safe environment for the
Green and Leatherback turtles that nest on the island of Wa Ale. At this time WCS informs
us that we are the only active sea turtle conservation program in Myanmar
• The Foundation also supports and helps fund and provide training for a local medical
clinic and schools in the villages of Salet Galet and Ma Kyone Galet, regularly providing
supplies, equipment and medicine for the local inhabitants of the 2 villages
• Through eco-tourism, Wa Ale Resorts pledges to annually donate 20% of net profits and
2% of room revenue from Wa Ale Tented Camp and other Wa Ale developments to the
Lampi Foundation which will helps fund the protection of the Lampi Marine National Park

20. B U I L D I N G T H E T U R T L E H A T C H E R Y W I T H W C S A N D F O R E S T R Y

21. T U R T L E H A T C H E R Y

22. P R O T E C T E D T U R T L E N E S T

23. DISCOVERY OF LEATHERBACK TURTLES
Leatherback Turtle Eggs Leatherback Turtle Hatchling

24. B A B Y T U R T L E S H E A D I N G O U T T O S E A

25. CHALLENGES OF DEVELOPING ON WA ALE
• Remote location and access
• Not clearing any large trees
• Erosion control
• Not building roads on the island
• Sourcing recycled materials and reclaimed woods
• Maintaining low impact and disruption to the environment
No question, eco-construction of a resort on an island can be
challenging. Wa Ale Resorts honest commitment to a sustainable
green build will only affirm the importance of conservation and
sustainability in the Archipelago. Through education of the local
community and visitors worldwide will only help perpetuate the
importance of responsible tourism
Wa Ale Resorts is striving to set this precedent for future projects in
the Myeik Archipelago