Ha Long – A critical international workshop aimed at promoting sustainable development in tourist accommodation establishments was held in Ha Long city, in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh, on November 18. The event addressed the need for environmentally responsible practices in the hospitality sector.
According to Vietnam News Agency, the workshop, hosted by the Vietnam Executive Housekeepers Association (VEHA) under the Vietnam Hotel Association, attracted 300 delegates, including local participants and representatives from housekeepers’ associations in Kuwait, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. VEHA President Nguyen Quang referenced a report by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) stating that out of 38,000 accommodation establishments in Vietnam, only 41 have received the ASEAN Green Hotel certification. Quang emphasized the significant value that investing in green and sustainable hotels brings to investors, employees, customers, society, and the environment.
The event provided a platform for delegates to discuss sustainable tourism, the current status of tourist accommodation facilities in Vietnam, future goals, and strategies to promote the green transition in hotels both in Vietnam and globally. Experts and managers at the workshop shared essential information and methods for developing hotels sustainably, focusing on balancing investors’ interests with laborers’ rights.
Malaysian representatives presented on building detailed plans with specific management systems to enhance service quality and sustainable development in Malaysia. Indonesian participants highlighted effective practices from the St. Regis Bali Resort, a leading resort in Bali and globally. The workshop also featured insights into green and sustainable development solutions implemented in hotels in Kuwait and Thailand.
This event marks a step forward in the collective effort to foster environmental sustainability in the tourism and hospitality industry, a crucial sector for many economies worldwide, including Vietnam.