Announcing a “Plastic-Free Hotel” in Hoi An, Quang Nam Province: Developing Green Tourism in the Right Direction

On the morning of September 9th, in Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort officially announced that it is a hotel that no longer releases plastic waste into the environment and no longer uses single-use plastic items.

Mr. Tran Thai Do, the investor of Silk Sense Resort, said that with a sustainable development orientation, Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort has pursued an “environmental protection journey” from the very beginning of its construction to the present day, by using environmentally friendly materials and implementing plastic waste reduction programs at the hotel.

“To implement the plan, we set specific criteria and solutions for each waste problem and applied them synchronously and proactively to ensure the complete elimination of plastic waste at the hotel. Currently, we have drastically reduced plastic waste, so the resort no longer releases plastic waste into the environment and no longer uses single-use plastic items,” Mr. Do said.

According to Mr. Do, this action is not simply about protecting the environment, but also opens up great opportunities for sustainable tourism.

“We believe that demonstrating social responsibility and creating a sustainable business model not only attracts responsible tourists but also contributes to building a green brand for Vietnam’s tourism industry,” shared the investor of Silk Sense Resort.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hong, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province, said: “This is the first resort to pioneer a zero-plastic waste model and a practical action in concretizing the Green Tourism Criteria. At the same time, this is also a pilot model for tourism businesses in general, as well as resorts and hotels in the area, to orient their tourism products and develop green tourism in line with the province’s development orientation.”

“In 2023, together with the Quang Nam Tourism Association, we will continue to promote and encourage all businesses to participate in implementing the Green Tourism Criteria. This year, 20 businesses have registered to implement the Green Tourism Criteria. At the end of this year, there will be inspections and evaluations to further recognize businesses that have met the Green Tourism Criteria,” Mr. Hong said.

It is known that the implementation of the Green Tourism Criteria in Quang Nam province has achieved initial results, such as raising awareness among tourism businesses and local people regarding the implementation of the Green Tourism Criteria, and especially among tourists.

“In the coming period, we will continue to strengthen communication efforts, training and development, and create mechanisms and policies to facilitate businesses in developing new products that meet green tourism criteria,” said the Director of the Quang Nam Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Mr. Vu The Binh, President of the Vietnam Tourism Association.

According to Mr. Vu The Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, the announcement ceremony for “Plastic-Free Hotels” is a concrete action by businesses, with great significance in creating a ripple effect among the tourism business community not only in Hoi An but throughout the country regarding the determination to implement sustainable tourism development in Vietnam.

Based on the “Plastic-Free Hotel” criteria developed and successfully implemented by the resort, the Vietnam Tourism Association will initially research, refine, and immediately issue them for evaluation purposes for hotels that are members of the Vietnam Tourism Association. The goal is to lobby relevant state agencies to officially issue and apply them throughout the entire tourism industry.

Introducing the eco-friendly products currently being used at Silk Sense Resort.

The amenities in the hotel rooms are made from environmentally friendly materials.

Currently, with funding from the Global Environment Fund and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP/GEF-SGP), the Vietnam Tourism Association is actively implementing the project “Reducing Plastic Waste in Vietnam’s Tourism Sector,” which will be carried out over two years, 2023-2024. The project aims to promote activities to reduce plastic waste in the tourism sector, contributing to environmental protection and the sustainable development of the tourism industry.

The project will also focus on raising awareness among all levels of government, sectors, businesses, residents, and tourists about the harmful effects of plastic waste and the sense of responsibility in reducing plastic waste. It will also pilot solutions and initiatives to reduce plastic waste at several hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, and tourist destinations in Ninh Binh and Quang Nam provinces.

A key component of this project will be the development and pilot application of criteria for recognizing tourism businesses as plastic-free, contributing to the widespread adoption of plastic waste reduction practices by businesses.

“The Vietnam Tourism Association hopes that through the activities of the project “Reducing Plastic Waste in Vietnam’s Tourism Sector,” it can send a strong message, calling for the efforts and contributions of people, businesses, communities, and tourists towards the goal of: Plastic-Free Tourism in Vietnam,” Mr. Vu The Binh shared.

The Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association stated that although Hoi An has been implementing environmental protection initiatives and campaigns since its early stages, these efforts have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, as society has focused its resources on pandemic prevention. The Vietnam Tourism Association hopes that the implementation of the project to reduce RTN (Recyclable Waste) in the tourism sector will further support environmental protection efforts and help Hoi An maintain its position as a leading destination in implementing environmental protection measures in Vietnam.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/cong-bo-khach-san-khong-rac-thai-nhua-o-hoi-an-quang-nam-dang-phat-trien-du-lich-xanh-dung-huong-20230909110800786.htm