An article in the Bangkok Post today quoting the Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor, Why Thailand Must Go Green, really made me laugh.

This article is the result of one of the Thailand Tourism Fairs last week that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) sponsored.  Lots of talk, and very little action – as usual.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Koh Samet Sewage

I agree that Thailand needs to go “green” – but first they need to clean up the putrid purple raw sewage that flows onto the Sai Kaew beach on Koh Samet and out into the Sea.  The sand for about 100 feet on both sides is no longer crystal white. Why hasn’t the Tourism Authority of Thailand done anything about this?

Raw Sewage Koh Samet Beach

Photos are from April 2010 and I am willing to bet if I go back to Koh Samet today, I will still see this, only worse.  And, this is at a THAILAND NATIONAL PARK.  This is where I have to pay 200 baht to enter the island.  Where does the money go?

This area is just a short walk from one of the hotels that made some sort of “green” list in Thailand according to the Thailand Green Leaf Foundation.  The hotel is also listed as “Smoke Free” – but I can attest that smoking is allowed.

Another hotel I saw on the “Smoke Free” was the one in Roi-et I stayed at the night before my brother-in-law’s wedding last month – smoking – no problem in the room.

Windsor Suites in Bangkok is also listed as “Smoke Free”, but, again, I can attest that it is not.

So, that is why I believe that this organization, and the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand are both – all talk and no action.

First off, the article states the ludicrous number of tourists that supposedly visited Thailand in 2010 which I sincerely believe the Tourism Authority of Thailand makes up.  So, the article has it wrong from the get-go.

This part is correct:

the tourism industry also impacts on the environment in various ways such as over-exploiting natural resources

But, why doesn’t anyone go after those that over-exploit natural resources?  Why go after the tourists?

Here is what the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Suraphon Svetasreni had to say:

“What we [the TAT] try to do is to promote alternative tourism, a means to reduce the impact on our environment, by campaigning about green and sustainable tourism.”

WOW! Four BUZZ words in one sentence – alternative, environment, green, sustainable – again all items for the tourism industry to attain and for the Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote – so 0 for 2 here.

More from the Gov:

they should consider destinations or accommodation that show awareness about the environment, or support community-based tourism

And, these places are located where?  And, these places are promoted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand where?

This part I agree with – to an extent:

“Tourists should also be aware about all the activities they will do when visiting a place with respect to the locals and the environment,” he said.

The missing piece in the above is that locals need to respect their environment and not just live for today.

Whenever I go to the beach to do some metal detecting, every day I bring back to my room a bunch of trash to throw away.

Sai Kaew beach trash

Now, I understand that there will be trash on the beach and locals and foreigners alike are to blame, but the funny part is, that every time I am out detecting and a Thai person sees me and stops to chat and ask questions, they always ask why I take the trash with me.  ALWAYS.

When I explain that I don’t like dirty beaches, some items could cause injury especially to small kids, and it is the right thing to do, I get the strangest looks.  ALWAYS.  The Thai people think that I am crazy for picking up trash from a beach and throwing it away later in my room.

Education of an entire nation is required before anything environmental can be done in Thailand and this would take about 4 generations to accomplish.

Let me get back to the Thailand Green Leaf Foundation.  The more I look at their web site, the more doubt I have about this organization.  Here is why:

The organization was created in 1998 and I see no real change to Thailand’s environment except more trash from more people.

The Green Leaf Foundation web site was created in 2002 (kinda slow there) and even the English part of the site has mostly Thai information.  The site also states a copyright date of 2009.  Not sure when it was really updated.

If you go to the Smoke Free section of the web site, sections “Trick for Health”,” News & Information”, and “Activities”, are all blank pages.  Not very up-to-date.  And, on the right side of all the pages, the database of hotels is broken.

If you go to the “Contact Us”, page you will also see that this organization is co-located with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, so very easy for collusion.

There is a Smoke Free Questionnaire available for hotels to download, but the file is corrupt.

Here is how the Green Leaf system in Thailand works.  You will see that it is wide open to graft and corruption.

First you complete three separate questionnaires – self audit and submit to the Foundation.  Then they will schedule a visit, giving you 48 hours notice.  They conduct the inspection and award you a ranking of 1-5 green leafs.

You can have a final score of about 45% and still get at least one leaf (when I was in school, a 45% score meant you failed).  You even get a letter after completing the first of the three self assessments.  I am sure that many hotels stop there and hang the letter prominently in the lobby.

But, for those that want to attain green leaf-ness, I am sure that for a fee, any level you want can be approved.

Now, this is if this program is still in operation because again, on the Green Leaf Foundation web site, there have been three award ceremonies – 1998, 2000, and 2003.  Nothing for the past 8 years?

According to the article in the Bangkok Post:

There are about 400 certified hotels and resorts following the Green Leaf Foundation nationwide, said the foundation’s vice president and secretary general Chirapol Sintunawa.

But, it doesn’t state at what green leaf level – maybe they are all 1-leaf hotels with a whopping 45% compliance.  And, since I don’t believe the Smoke Free list, I really don’t believe the Green Leaf list.

Netherlands Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ANVR) director Frank Oostdam said those who already applied green and sustainable standards should also know how to market them to customers.

Something that the Tourism Authority of Thailand fails at miserably.

Appears there is at least one smart person mentioned in the article:

According to the Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Association president Weera Bumrungsee, green and sustainable tourism also need participation from locals who own the tourism resources.

“People in communities need to be educated about environment-friendly tourism as well as become aware of the presence of tourists who have different ways of life and culture from them,” he said, adding that there should also be local guides because they know their places well.

The local Thai owners and  the local Thai people need a massive dose of education, but, it will never happen or fall on deaf ears.

This part is also very true, and also, not promoted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand:

This community-based tourism should not target the mass market, but only aim for quality tourists who wish to learn more about different cultures. Through interaction with locals, tourists can learn more about the real Thailand.

Prime Minister Abhisit has directed the Tourism Authority of Thailand to pursue quality tourists, but the Tourism Authority of Thailand would rather promote the largest water gun fight and the Tiffany transvestite beauty contest.

This last part of the article says it all, but most likely, nothing will change:

Training local authorities including the Tambon and Provincial Administrative Offices is one thing the TAT can do to widely promote green and sustainable tourism, said TAT governor Suraphon, adding that the local authorities needed to know how they can preserve and promote their natural resources, cultures and their traditional ways of living because they have power and the funds to do so. If they use them wisely, their communities could gear up for sustainable tourism and lure the attention of tourists and generate income for locals while minimising the impact on the environment in the long term.

Local authorities don’t know how to promote their areas and/or don’t have any reason to do so.  The local, provincial Tourism Authority of Thailand offices fail to notify anyone of upcoming events.  It is almost as if the Tourism Authority of Thailand doesn’t want anyone to attend Rocket Festivals, Silk Festival Parades, or Marathons.

This is just another in the continuing Travel and Tourism Fairs/Conventions where all the big shots from various Thai Government Tourism agencies, like the Tourism Authority of Thailand, gather and talk about how wonderful they are, pose for those photo opportunities, and fabricate news that the local newspapers never challenge.

Jomtien Beach Trash

I will continue to clean up the beaches when I am out metal detecting and maybe one of these days the Tourism Authority of Thailand will actually do something about the environment and eco-system in Thailand instead of just talk.

Tags: environment green leaf foundation pollution smoke free TAT tourism authority of thailand