The Blue Tourism Initiative is proud to celebrate a significant achievement in its Sainte-Marie pilot: the successful launch of the Sainte-Marie EcoLabel certification. This milestone marks an important step toward building a more sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible tourism sector in Madagascar.

This month, 14 tourism operators in Sainte-Marie were officially awarded their EcoLabel certification, recognising their dedication to adopting more sustainable practices. This accomplishment is the result of months of intensive training, evaluation, and collaboration led by the Sainte-Marie Tourism Office and Berthy Ramdoo, in partnership with CORDIO East Africa.

The first cohort of certified operators represents a diverse cross-section of the local tourism industry, including hotels, restaurants, and tourism service providers. Their strong engagement reflects a growing commitment within the sector to embrace sustainability as a core value. Among them, 10 establishments achieved the Basic ECO Friendly level, while 4 reached the Intermediate ECO Committed level—an encouraging sign of progress and ambition. The highest tier, Advanced ECO Excellence, remains a future goal for operators already on this journey.

The certification ceremony was a vibrant and well-attended event, bringing together more than 60 participants. Local authorities, institutional stakeholders, and tourism professionals gathered to celebrate this shared achievement, underscoring strong local ownership and collective momentum. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism highlighted the initiative’s importance, noting its potential to evolve into a national benchmark for sustainable tourism practices in Madagascar.

At its core, the Blue Tourism Initiative in Madagascar seeks to strike a careful balance between economic growth, environmental conservation, and community-led tourism development. The EcoLabel certification is a key tool in achieving this vision—encouraging responsible practices while enhancing the destination’s appeal to conscious travelers.

Looking ahead, there are plans to expand the EcoLabel across all tourism stakeholders in Sainte-Marie. This will further strengthen the island’s position as a model for sustainable tourism in the region and beyond. This milestone is not just a celebration of progress—it is a call to continue building a tourism sector that benefits both people and the planet.