Taiwan could lose billions of NT dollars worth of business opportunities from hosting major international expositions if the number of hotels securing a “green mark” issued by the Ministry of Environment remains so low, tourism experts said yesterday.
Local environmental protection departments are in charge of administering the certification for “Eco-Friendly Hotels,” which do not provide single-use toiletries or change guests’ bed sheets or towels daily. Hotels seeking to gain a certificate for a gold, silver or bronze-level green mark are subject to stricter evaluations by an impartial third party using higher criteria. Aside from not providing single-use toiletries, green mark hotels must also use energy-conserving lights and meet water conservation requirements.
Only 126 of the nation’s hotels have obtained a green mark.
Photo: Chen Chia-yi, Taipei Times
Taiwan has seen a significant increase in businesses in the post-COVID-19 era from hosting international conferences and exhibitions, particularly those on the semiconductor industry and artificial intelligence, Takming University of Science and Technology Department of Marketing Management director Sean Kao (高鵬翔) said.
“Business travelers from overseas come to participate in conferences and exhibitions in Taiwan and do some sightseeing as well, which helps bring in a new set of business opportunities for the travel industry,” Kao said. “If Taiwan hopes to host more international conferences and exhibitions, we must then consider issues related to the environment, society and corporate governance when hosting these events, from the selections of venues to hotels and accommodation.
When it comes to sustainability, guests tend to give more credit to a hotel with a green mark, Kao added.
The Ministry of Environment’s green mark certification system was created by referring to Canada’s green leaf eco-rating program, Kao said.
“While most international conferences and exhibitions are in northern Taiwan, only about 40 hotels in Taipei, New Taipei City and Taoyuan have obtained a green mark, which is not enough,” Kao said.
“Hoteliers might lose business opportunities brought by hosting conferences and exhibitions if they do not keep up with the trend of pursuing sustainability,” he added.
Many hotels might lack motivation to secure a green mark because it means that they would have to change their facilities to conserve water and energy, which might not guarantee an increase in business, Kao said.
“Encouraging hoteliers to obtain a green mark requires interdepartmental efforts: the Ministry of Environment should ensure that they follow all the required procedures to secure the certificate; the Tourism Administration should help hoteliers transition to a sustainable operation by subsidizing them in changing facilities; and the Ministry of Economic Affairs should promote Taiwan’s eco-friendly and green mark hotels among participants of international conferences and exhibitions,” Kao said.
National Chi Nan University Department of Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management associate professor Tseng Hsi-peng (曾喜鵬) said that a green mark should be something that the Tourism Administration uses to review the performance of hotels.
There should be a group of consultants to help obtain a green mark, Tseng added.
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