A TWO-DAY seminar on 'Sustainability in the Accommodation Sector' is expected to attract a lot of attention from resort managements on Phuket and around the Andaman, and not just because it's free.
The seminar, at the Club Andaman Beach Resort in Patong on May 10-11, has been organised by the United Nations for Environment Program with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Agence Francaise de Developpement. And its full title is 'Sustainability Management in the Accommodation Sector in Thailand Coastal Areas.'
The seminar will be conducted in Thai and English, with translation available, and it sounds ideal for discussion of some of the key issues triggered by resort development in destinations like Phuket.
Here's what the organisers say: ''The first day of this seminar will aim at providing hotels managers with background information, certification schemes and capacity building on the UNEP sustainable tourism tool, Envirotel.
''The Envirotel is an e-tool that gives practical guidance on issues regarding management of energy, water, waste and also placement of tourism buildings. The overall objective is to increase the capacity of hotel managers on reducing resource use while conserving the environment.
''The second day will focus on tourism and biodiversity as well as information for hotels owners on Kasikorn bank/AFD credit line. The AFD/Kasikorn Bank project is targeting hotels in the Andaman coast which are willing to commit to raising their environmental performance, specifically those likely to minimise adverse impacts of hotels operation and of their host recreational activities on local biodiversity.
''Travelife, as a representative of the main European tour operators, is also taking actively part of this seminar and it will be the occasion for hotel owners to understand the future expectations from the European market.''
Those who wish to attend should rsvp quickly to Chaveemon Sukpaibool at ChaveemonS@kiasia.org
The seminar, at the Club Andaman Beach Resort in Patong on May 10-11, has been organised by the United Nations for Environment Program with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Agence Francaise de Developpement. And its full title is 'Sustainability Management in the Accommodation Sector in Thailand Coastal Areas.'
The seminar will be conducted in Thai and English, with translation available, and it sounds ideal for discussion of some of the key issues triggered by resort development in destinations like Phuket.
Here's what the organisers say: ''The first day of this seminar will aim at providing hotels managers with background information, certification schemes and capacity building on the UNEP sustainable tourism tool, Envirotel.
''The Envirotel is an e-tool that gives practical guidance on issues regarding management of energy, water, waste and also placement of tourism buildings. The overall objective is to increase the capacity of hotel managers on reducing resource use while conserving the environment.
''The second day will focus on tourism and biodiversity as well as information for hotels owners on Kasikorn bank/AFD credit line. The AFD/Kasikorn Bank project is targeting hotels in the Andaman coast which are willing to commit to raising their environmental performance, specifically those likely to minimise adverse impacts of hotels operation and of their host recreational activities on local biodiversity.
''Travelife, as a representative of the main European tour operators, is also taking actively part of this seminar and it will be the occasion for hotel owners to understand the future expectations from the European market.''
Those who wish to attend should rsvp quickly to Chaveemon Sukpaibool at ChaveemonS@kiasia.org
I am very surprised and frustrated that the United Nations for Environment Program with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and "Agence Francaise de Developpement - http://www.afd-thailande.org/" invite only the hotel industry while ignoring all other leading players in the tourism industry, such as inbound tour-operators, dive boat operators and Thai dive association (TDA Diving Association), ecotour operators, sea-kayak tour operators, big game fishing tour boats, tour boat operators, yachting and luxurious boat operators and so on....
It is not only the hotel industry which is attracting tourists (Thais and expats alike) to the Andaman Coast but the abundance and the diversity of many ecotourism activities which is unique in Phuket, Phang-Nga and the Krabi region.
Do not forget it: we are not second or third class investors in the tourism industry in Thailand but the true key players for the inbound tourism businesses & hotel bookings.
Posted by Whistle-Blower on May 6, 2010 12:30