Seminar: Environmentally conscious travellers a growing trend

TOURISM

Seminar: Environmentally conscious travellers a growing trend

Published: 19 Nov 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Business

The tourism sector must halt its seeming "race to the bottom" and try to retain those tourists willing to spend money but not at the expense of society or the environment, say experts.

Udom Srimahachota, vice-president of the Western Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), urged Thai hotels to invest more in environmentally friendly services to retain European tourists concerned about their ecological footprint.

He was speaking at a recent low-carbon tourism seminar hosted by the German Agency for International Cooperation. "Large numbers of European tourists no longer go to Pattaya, as it has become a place just for gratification and entertainment. Phuket and Koh Samui too are seeing a disappearance of tourists," said Mr Udom, adding that Scandinavian tourists tend to be the most environmentally conscious.

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barryw
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Discussion 1 : 19 Nov 2012 at 09.091
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The last paragraph says it all, about so much of Thailand. All talk, no action. Just slogans that mean nothing. Tourist numbers might be up but, as the article says, many are from low-spending countries. Pattaya is mentioned above, where large groups come, gawp at the entertainment scene, but spend nothing. To attract quality tourists Thailand needs to provide quality infrastructure. Largely, that is a very long way away.
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Seminar: Environmentally conscious travellers a growing trend | Bangkok Post: business