This year, ASEAN tourism is giving important recognition to our tourism players, this time to the Hotel sector, for adopting the ASEAN Green Hotel Standards into their services. The ASEAN Green Hotel Standards focus on the principles on how the hotel industry contributes towards Sustainable Tourism, by way of improving the quality and maintaining the sustainability of the tourism products including action to reduce its contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions.

This recognition is doubly significant as it is a testimony for ASEAN tourism’s modest contribution to our Leaders’ commitment at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore in addressing climate change and environmental sustainability.

Climate change will become an increasingly critical issue affecting tourism development and management. As you are all aware, the world is warming up. Last year Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that the earth was about 0.76o C warmer than it was in 1850. While it may look negligible, a small difference in climate makes a big difference in tourism. Hot extremes, heat waves, tropical cyclones, rising seas and heavy precipitation adversely affect choice for tourism destinations. Climatic conditions define the length and quality of tourism seasons and play a major role in destination choice and tourist spending.
 
I would like to express my gratitude to the ASEAN tourism officials for their collective efforts in preparing the criteria and requirements to the ASEAN Green Hotel Standards. I would like to encourage in continuing and expanding this exercise to other type of tourism establishments. I also wish also to congratulate 81 hotels in ASEAN that have made their effort to fulfil the ASEAN Green Hotel Standards.

I am equally happy that today, we are joined by H.E. Mr. Francesco Frangialli, Secretary-General of World Tourism Organisation. ASEAN recognizes the role played by this UN Specialized agency in promoting the development of responsible and sustainable tourism. Therefore, through the signing of the MOU, ASEAN and UNWTO will be collaborating among others in joint programs on sustainable tourism development to reduce green house gas emission in tourism establishments through research and information exchange. I am hopeful that this collaboration would be beneficial in making tourism as a tool of poverty alleviation and make ASEAN continuously Green.

In this connection, as a contribution to sustainable development and sustainable tourism, we should be considering an initiative to promote A Cool ASEAN / Green Capitals Campaign. All ten capitals of ASEAN should take part and I am sure there will be many partners from around the world will join us in this endeavour.

Just an idea for your further consideration.

Thank you for your kind attention.