Thai tourism organisations step up war on plastic

Bangkok, 21 January 2019 – The Thai Hotels Association (THA) is joining the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in its ongoing effort aimed at reducing the use of plastic.

Various campaigns will encourage hotels, both THA members and independent Thai hotels, to reduce single use plastic plus motivate tour companies, travel agencies and online travel agencies to support participating hotels that are part of this project.

TAT Governor Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn said: “We look forward to working closely with the THA on this important project. Thai hotels can play an important role both in raising awareness among their guests and reducing plastic waste in daily hotel operations.”

The joint effort will invoke 12 preliminary guidelines for participating hotels to follow:

1. Reduce plastic packaging used for bathroom amenities.
2. Reduce the use of plastic bags in hotel rooms (laundry or trash bin).
3. Use local products made with biodegradable packaging materials.
4. Reduce plastic water bottles; use reusable containers instead, especially for meetings and seminars.
5. No plastic straws.
6. Self-service corner for coffee/tea breaks during meetings and seminars.
7. Reduce single use plastic food or drink containers.
8. Separate trash bins on beach areas adjacent to hotels.
9. Create a sustainable ‘no plastic’ rate card for meetings and weddings customers.
10. Separate waste at the hotel.
11. Organise all departments within the hotel to reduce plastic.
12. Encourage guests, customers, clients and partners to join the ‘anti-plastic revolution’.

TAT will support all participating hotels at their participation in trade shows; such as, the ITB, TTM, WTM, etc.  Green friendly operators will also meet core criteria TAT uses to invite and support sellers to join trade shows and road shows.

This joint effort between TAT and THA marks the first step under TAT’s collaboration initiative with various stakeholders in July last year.

Other public and private sector partners joining in TAT’s reducing tourism-related waste initiative include the THA, the Expedia Group, Tourism Council of Thailand, Siam Piwat Retail and Development Company, Chao Phraya River tourism-related businesses including ICONSIAM, Nonthaburi Municipality, plus other local communities in Bangkok.

All pledge to raise environmental awareness while encouraging other tourism-related businesses to support their initiative.