Tour operators urged to woo green travelers

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) have told operators they must enhance their products and services to meet international environment standards in order to woo the green traveler.

"Many foreign tourists and companies are concerned about green tourism and they are searching for green hotels and tour operators. Many governments in Europe have announced their intention to usher in a green age, which would help green operators to get more customers," said TAT adviser Aggaphol Bricksawana.

He said that the TAT and the WTO had invited tourism operators to join green organisations and get certification about environment standards. In Thailand, the Thai Hotels Association has been handing out Green Leaf Awards to its members nationwide annually while the TAT is giving Thailand Tourism Awards once every two years.

-- The Nation 2009/11/11

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Now this is a green traveler!

Wonderful idea. Looks like someone was paying attention at one of the international tourism conferences. Unfortunately, with the exception of some of the large multinational hotel chains that have green standards, just like life & safety standards, the Thai hotel sector is 25 years behind the times. Green tourists will be looking for green operators and there just are not that many in Thailand. A tourist can go to a small hotel in the armpit of England or Germany and see more emphasis on recycling & conservation than one would see at the typical hotel on Phuket or in Pattaya. The inability to factor in basic planning and environmental concerns is demonstrated on a daily basis on Phuket with its water shortages and power grid issues. More empty slogans and hollow gestures from TAT.

And in Laos on the other hand almost everything offered has to do with Ecotourism or Environmental Tourism.

Brilliant idea - maybe they would volunteer to pick up all the plastic bags and dogs poo