Environmental Protection at present is not an issue of a single country, but a top concern of the globe. Established in 1975, Saigontourist has been a top unit in improving product quality, developing types of green and sustainable tourism to meet customer’s demand, contribute to environmental protection, resources efficiency in hospitality sector and to improve business effectivenesss in the regional and global context.

                                  

Over the past years, Saigontourist Executive Board has seen the important role of the International Environmental Management System ISO 14001- which serves as the Green Card to the global market- thus resolutely implementing and directing the participation of investment units. Since 2002, with the assistance of the Asia-Invest Project, 15 hotels under Saigontourist System have contributed to creating the Environmental Management System (EMS). By the end of 2004, the units have achieved the ISO 14001 Certificate in turn and continuously implemented and maintained the system to date under the criteria“Sustainable Tourism Development”.

Every year, Saigontourist organizes training courses on Environment for management, cross evaluation of the implementation of ISO 14001 among units, and domestic evaluation to actively assist the environmental management. In addition, Saigontourist has received consultancy from domestic and foreign experts such as French Agency for Environment and Energy Management (ADEME), Energy Conservation Center (ECC), Energy Conservation and Development Center (Enerteam),…Furthermore, Saigontourist has actively participated in annual environmental activities such as Earth Hour, World Environment Day on 5^th June, Cleaner World Strategy,… Over the last years, Saigontourist has carried out environment programs in other provinces: SG Morim- Hue; SG- Da Lat; SG-Phu Quoc.

Image 1- Receiving ADEME delegation to visit and work with Saigontourist in May 2007

 

 

Image 2- Program “A warm hour without power” to support the Earth Hour 2010

       

 

Image 3- Planting trees to support World Environment Day 2010

 

 

                                               

Energy Conservation and Efficiency have become one of Saigontourist’s objectives. A range of solutions to Energy Conservation and Management have been implemented over the last years, mainly good practices such as the installation of energy meters in the areas to monitor and analyse the periodical use of energy; making use of natural light from the windows for cleaning operations in hotel rooms or restaurants and public corridors; avoiding to use energy-intensive appliances on rush hours (from 18h00 – 22h00) such as staff elevators, water pumps, washing machines,…; making maintenance plans for energy consuming equipment; regularly coaching, and checking the implementation of energy conservation at all departments; placing boards to call on in-house guests to re-use towels and bed sheets instead of using new ones everyday; selecting stationaries labelled as “ Energy Star”, “Eco System” or “Green Label”, intensifying the search for new energy conservation, environmentally friendly lighting equipment and air conditioners .

                                          

Besides, technical solutions are to build solar energy system for hot water supply; use magnetic locks, automatic power shut off after room leave; replace traditional balbs with Compact balbs; maintain the cool pipe system; adjust the ice release hour and decrease the temperature of food frozen storage; regularly verify/ adjust measurements to enhance operation effectiveness…

                                   

Despite many efforts, the implementation of the environment and energy conservation programs at different units is still limited. The application of good practices has been remained but it’s necessary to have technical solutions to increase resources and energy conservation with costly investment, making direct impact on design, structure of works. Therefore, The Government needs to map out concrete policies to encourage, prioritize businesses to apply the ISO 14000 or other standards to energy conservation to create fair competition for all peer enterprises.

                                           

Vietnam is fomulating its position in the world economy, especially via its tourism operations. Therefore, green and sustainable tourism development is an urgent need to individual unit, country, region in the globalized economy.