Secret Paradise’s Fayaz Hussain selected for innovative Climate Friendly Travel Diploma

Secret Paradise announces that Fayaz ‘Kamey’ Hussain, a tour leader with the organisation, has been awarded a scholarship for this year’s Climate Friendly Travel (CFT) Diploma.

The CFT Diploma, a world first, trains students to assist travel and tourism companies and communities in becoming sustainable and climate-resilient, with the goal of achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Organised by SUNx Malta in partnership with the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) Malta, the CFT Diploma aims to promote Climate Friendly Travel (CFT) in every UN country, particularly where climate change poses the greatest threat and where tourism is most needed—specifically in the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

In the first year, students will engage in 300 hours of comprehensive teaching about the climate crisis and sustainability in relation to Climate Friendly Travel, including topics like the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Interactive lectures will be delivered by 25 leading tourism academics. Students will also review carefully curated materials from top journals and online sources to deepen their understanding of the transport, hospitality, and travel services sectors in relation to the climate crisis.

In the second year, students will complete an internship with SUNx Malta as Climate Friendly Travel Chapter leaders, where they will apply their first-year learnings to help build a climate-resilient tourism community in their respective countries.

Key Learnings:

• Understanding why climate change is a pressing global issue and its significant impact on travel and tourism.
• Exploring the scientific development and impact of climate change on various components of travel and tourism, including transport, hospitality services, and destination activities.
• Learning both theoretical and practical aspects of green development strategies, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Grasping the key elements of Climate Friendly Travel and its role in transforming the sector to meet Paris Agreement carbon reduction targets.
• Preparing for future roles in companies, communities, and governments that implement long-term transformations.

Ruth Franklin, Co-Founder of Secret Paradise, remarked, “We can’t think of a more suitable candidate for this opportunity. Kamey has been a committed member of the Secret Paradise Maldives team since the beginning of our journey in 2012, providing him with a strong foundation in sustainable travel and tourism. We wish Kamey every success as he embarks on this significant opportunity.”