Ecochic, ecolux Sabah resort gets international award

We talk to the young owner about conservation and real estate

A private island sanctuary of timbered private villas, Bunga Raya Island Resort and Spa is located at a peaceful, hidden bay, bordered by a crescent of gleaming white sand on one side and by an ancient virgin jungle on the other.

Taking its name from the Malay word for the hibiscus flower, Bunga Raya takes its name to heart, and the most striking feature of the resort is the presence of these vibrant, colourful plants.

Valere Tjolle: Many congratulations on winning the International Real Estate Federation’s Prix d’Excellence award. Could you explain something about the award and what it means for you?
Gillian Tan: We were absolutely thrilled! When we first found out that we had won, I honestly thought it was some sort of a joke or misunderstanding. This project is so close to our hearts and for our work and efforts to be acknowledged like this, It is indeed a great honor. We are so excited to be able to be able to showcase Sabah as a destination to the rest of the world.

VT: And can you explain something about your vision for sustainable development in such a sensitive and beautiful area of the world?
GT: Sabah has got such wonderful biodiversity, it is really like a pocket of nature that the world forgot. We are so fortunate to call this place home and to have all these natural treasures literally in our backyard. We have a responsibility to look after our environment and to preserve it for the generations ahead. In building the resort, we very much wanted to showcase the authentic beauty of Borneo to the rest of the world and that is why we have put so much effort in ensuring that everything remained as close to its original form as possible.

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VT: How does your resort support the conservation of giant clams and the Marine Ecology Research Centre?
GT: The MERC is heart of everything we do at the resorts – before there were luxury villas and 5 star restaurants, our focus was to be able to clean up and preserve our reef. We started out as a research facility before we grew into a resort, and our principle of conservation and preservation stems from our work at the MERC. When we first bought over the property, the reef was not in its best condition with damaged coral and hardly any marine life at all. Four years later, our efforts are paying off as the reef is now healthy, the fishes have returned and we have a very colorful display of marine life in our waters. We are just about to re-introduce our very first batch of baby clams into the water. After 4 years, we are all very excited to finally be able to put the clams back into their natural habitat.

Our dedication to conservation and preservations also spills into our restaurants and the services offered. We provide all non-motorised waterspouts free of charge to encourage our guests to enjoy "gentle" activities that won’t disrupt the reef. In our restaurants, we only serve fish and crustaceans from our private fish farms so as not to contribute to overfishing within the area. We are also one of the first restaurants in our area to say no to Sharks Fin Soup, which is actually quite unusual for a Chinese Restaurant.

VT: What benefits do present guests get from the research centre?
GT: The MERC is open to our guests where they can watch a documentary, wander through our aquarium and touch-tank area, and even contribute to our programs through activities such as coral planting. Through the MERC, we have also sunken several large boats which have created a "refuge" for the fish to retreat to. Teamed with BioRock technology which aids and speeds up the growth of coral, the MERC’s efforts to revitalize the reef is visibly starting to show. We have also enforced a strict "no fishing" rule so our bay can remain as a sanctuary for the marine life. Needless to say, diving and snorkeling are amazing as guests are able to see a close up peek of our now happy marine life.

VT: In what way are local inhabitants involved with the resort and what benefits do they get from your activity?
GT: Our team consists of mostly locals who have like us, grown up in and are very passionate about Sabah. We were very particular with who we employed to join us, we wanted passionate and enthusiastic individuals even if they weren’t necessarily the most experienced. We believe that skills can be taught, and that experience will inevitably come in time, however passion and enthusiasm cannot be bought or substituted.

We always joke that we are the "underdogs" as when we started we were not necessarily the most "experienced" bunch out there. Our team literally consists of a group of "first time managers" and we have all had to gel together and learn on our feet. This makes achievements such as the FIABCI award mean all that much more to us.

VT: Exactly how is the environment considered in the creation of your resorts?
GT:  Our concept and ultimate goal has been to exist in harmony with nature. We didn’t want to destroy any of the beautiful landscape that we were trying to showcase, so it actually took us a very long time to agree on the design and layout of the property. Mainly because of the topography of the land and existing trees and plants, we had to make many changes to our architectural and construction plans. As a result of that you’ll now find that our villas are carefully "scattered" (a villa here, a villa there) to fit in with the natural surroundings. Even in one of our Spa treatment villas, you’ll find we have a live tree growing through the floor and out the roof.

Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite – special offers HERE