Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico - The Iberostar Playa Mita hotel, a five-start property located in the Riviera Nayarit, has joined the Se Buscan Héroes (Heroes Wanted) campaign started by Paralelo 28, solidifying its commitment to the conservation and protection of the ocean with Pronatura Noroeste.

Iberostar Playa Mita is the first hotel company to form part of this initiative, which launched in the Riviera Nayarit on December 25, 2015. Its goal is to work on the preservation and protection of the Islas Marietas National Park. This crusade pursued the eco-restoration and maintenance of Playa del Amor, also known as Hidden Beach, located within the park, as well as a bolstering the surveillance and inspections for the protection of these natural resources.

The Bahía de Banderas Hotel and Motel Association and the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau joined the effort at that time, as did Bahía Unida at a later date.

A New Hero

Iberostar Playa Mita's commitment letter confirming their responsible and voluntary engagement with the program was signed on Friday, June 1, 2018, during a ceremony led by Mr. Daniel Llinás Ribot, General Manager of the hotel, and biologist Mauricio Cortés, coordinator for Pronatura Noroeste in Nayarit, who also represents Paralelo 28 in the Riviera Nayarit. Also present were: Luz María Álvarez, representing the National Commission of Protected Areas (Conanp) and the Islas Marietas National Park; Armando Pérez Otegui, a member of the Bahía Unida Board of Directors; and Mariela Dueñas, representing the Bahía de Banderas Hotel and Motel Association (AHMBB) & Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

"This initiative seems great, which is why we wanted to be a part of it," said Daniel Llinás Ribot. "We feel we have a responsibility to be spokes people and to try and convince the other hotel companies to unite for this cause. To begin with we'll address the issue of donation collection boxes, which we'll place strategically around the hotel, and we'll also sell stuffed animals in our shops with all proceeds going towards the cause."

A 99 Percent Reduction in Errors at Las Marietas

Mauricio Cortés, coordinator for Pronatura Noroeste in Nayarit who also represents Paralelo 28 in the Riviera Nayarit, announced there have already been palpable results at just a little over two years since the launch of Se Buscan Héroes in the Riviera Nayarit.

"Our primary focus must be on the sea, the ocean, and it's great to know and to be eternally thankful to the CVB since sparked the growth of this campaign.

"To date we have obtained 7 million pesos for the surveillance of the Islas Marietas. This resource has gone directly to the hiring of park rangers for the area. Right now, there's surveillance every day except Mondays when the park is closed, and we've noticed a 99 percent reduction in errors or offenses committed by the tourism service providers. We are conscious that these results are not just ours, but they came about thanks to a team effort and always in benefit of our society," he said.

For his part, Marc Murphy, Director of the CVB and the AHMBB, highlighted the many successful marine surveillance missions that have been undertaken thanks to the joint effort of the tourism sector, the civil society organizations, and the corresponding authorities, all working towards the increasing awareness and conservation of these natural resources.

"We know today that our efforts are bearing fruit and we're creating a trailblazing model for the sustainable utilization of the region's natural assets," he added.

Because of its commitment to the environment the Riviera Nayarit has always strived to maintain its beaches sparking clean, to the point of having obtained the Earth check environmental certification for Nuevo Vallarta as well as the Blue Flag awarded by the environmental organization Pronatura México.