Thailand’s largest resort island was center stage for a large-scale island-wide land and underwater clean-up last Thursday 1st April.
Led by the Phuket Hotel Association, over 700 hoteliers and community volunteers took to the beaches and streets in 13 strategic locations, and despite rainstorms across the island, collected over 2,000 kilograms of mostly plastic trash.
Phuket Hotels Association President, Anthony Lark said, “This is a great achievement, and it shows how local communities and hotels can collaborate to make our island a more beautiful place, in addition, to help to lift the spirits after a very hard year. This year the clean-ups are even more important as we look toward welcoming our first vaccinated international arrivals who can stay without quarantine from July 1.”
The time-out of international travel to Phuket as a result of the pandemic has provided an opportunity for the island’s travel and hotel sector to more clearly understand the mounting importance of a sustainable long-term recovery. Over the past few years, concerns over the negative impact of mass tourism have resulted in a rallying call for one of Asia’s leading resort destinations to rethink its priorities and work towards changes that must come at the local community level.
“We know the pain that the industry has endured, and continues to, in Phuket,” added Mr. Lark. “But we see the light at the end of the tunnel now and it is our job the help our members chart the course of recovery while maintaining a long-term view for the best sustainable development of Phuket. Green Day is a great example of what can be achieved at a grassroots level, involving communities, domestic tourist volunteers, and our 81-member group and it is one of many initiatives we will be continuing to lead.”
To find out more about the award-winning Phuket Hotels Association and its key missions and objectives, please visit www.phukethotelsassociation.com
