Here Hotels Too Sunbathe
PANAJI: While in Spain, the official World Tourism Day host, and the
rest of the world, tourism day functions will focus on 'Tourism and
Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development', in Goa, the
tourism industry is already adapting to alternative energy sources, like
solar energy.
For the industry, this brings benefits in two ways: hoteliers save on energy and there are economic advantages.
"The tourism industry is already using sustainable energy sources. Most hotels have solar-powered water heaters and use CFL light bulbs. Besides, kitchen equipment that use a lot of energy are being replaced by energy-saving appliances. These cost more, but in the long run the industry saves on energy and running costs," Travel and Tourism Association of Goa spokesman Ralph de Souza said.
He proffered the examples of five-star and four-star hotels that are required to compulsorily have sewage treatment plants and who utilize the treated water for gardening purposes.
This may not solely be the industry's initiative, for under Union tourism ministry guidelines, hotels are required to adopt environment-friendly practices, conserve energy, harvest water, segregate garbage and dispose or recycle it as per state pollution board norms.
Taking pride in the fact that the state government has been actively promoting the use of renewable energy, tourism minister Dilip Parulekar said solar water heating systems have become very popular among hotels and that the government will continue supporting initiatives that promote use of non-conventional energy.
Environment activists though want more efforts from the industry to make tourism sustainable and truly green. There are two ways sustainable tourism would work. In one it would sustain society as a whole, in the other it is the use of sources that can be replenished.
Tourism, explain scientists, will remain sustainable as long as there is enough to maintain the population of the place as well as the tourist. When the tourists increase and this becomes a burden on society, then the carrying capacity can be said to have exceeded. Though tourism is a major industry, Goa has never ventured to study the state's carrying capacity.
"There has to be a scientific study conducted on the state's carrying capacity and how much the entire population benefits from tourism. For the state to benefit, tourists must be made to pay for the use of facilities," scientist Joe D'Souza, who has been advocating a holistic tourism policy for the state, told TOI.
This finds an echo in what Centre For Responsible Tourism coordinator Oswin Gonsalves says. "Each and everyone should benefit from tourism. Today, tourism should be concerned about promoting the real Goa. What is being promoted is a commercial Goa. The culture and traditions are not focused upon," Gonsalves said.
Despite the lack of a policy, the industry has grown and is gearing up to welcome a new tourist season four days from now. Whether the season will be green for the industry and Goa, or red for both, steps taken in the coming weeks will decide. (TOI)
For the industry, this brings benefits in two ways: hoteliers save on energy and there are economic advantages.
"The tourism industry is already using sustainable energy sources. Most hotels have solar-powered water heaters and use CFL light bulbs. Besides, kitchen equipment that use a lot of energy are being replaced by energy-saving appliances. These cost more, but in the long run the industry saves on energy and running costs," Travel and Tourism Association of Goa spokesman Ralph de Souza said.
He proffered the examples of five-star and four-star hotels that are required to compulsorily have sewage treatment plants and who utilize the treated water for gardening purposes.
This may not solely be the industry's initiative, for under Union tourism ministry guidelines, hotels are required to adopt environment-friendly practices, conserve energy, harvest water, segregate garbage and dispose or recycle it as per state pollution board norms.
Taking pride in the fact that the state government has been actively promoting the use of renewable energy, tourism minister Dilip Parulekar said solar water heating systems have become very popular among hotels and that the government will continue supporting initiatives that promote use of non-conventional energy.
Environment activists though want more efforts from the industry to make tourism sustainable and truly green. There are two ways sustainable tourism would work. In one it would sustain society as a whole, in the other it is the use of sources that can be replenished.
Tourism, explain scientists, will remain sustainable as long as there is enough to maintain the population of the place as well as the tourist. When the tourists increase and this becomes a burden on society, then the carrying capacity can be said to have exceeded. Though tourism is a major industry, Goa has never ventured to study the state's carrying capacity.
"There has to be a scientific study conducted on the state's carrying capacity and how much the entire population benefits from tourism. For the state to benefit, tourists must be made to pay for the use of facilities," scientist Joe D'Souza, who has been advocating a holistic tourism policy for the state, told TOI.
This finds an echo in what Centre For Responsible Tourism coordinator Oswin Gonsalves says. "Each and everyone should benefit from tourism. Today, tourism should be concerned about promoting the real Goa. What is being promoted is a commercial Goa. The culture and traditions are not focused upon," Gonsalves said.
Despite the lack of a policy, the industry has grown and is gearing up to welcome a new tourist season four days from now. Whether the season will be green for the industry and Goa, or red for both, steps taken in the coming weeks will decide. (TOI)