Northstar

4 | www.travelweekly-asia.com INDUSTRY VOICES Say "No" to wasteful and unsustainable tourism practices A gentle stroll along the beach at sunset, children playing by the hotel pool, a mature adult couple enjoying a cruise — these are the beautiful and positive images that our industry puts forth daily to inspire people to dream and to travel. Yet there is a more insidious side that we often fail to see. Thanks to a desire for fast-paced services and the disposable, we are at the epicentre of conspicuous consumption: we endlessly generate harmful greenhouse gases, throw away materials from themed parties, trade shows, exhibitions and the like. It is time to mobilise the industry to make practical changes. While we often use the term 'throw away', the stark reality is there is no "away" — we must live permanently with most of what we produce in today's society. As such, it is imperative that we reduce, reuse and recycle. I was heartened to learn that McDonald's is moving away from plastic drinking straws and plastic containers starting with its restaurants in the UK and US; the latter sees customers consume 60 million drinking straws each month. That is an incredible number of which the majority will find their way into our rivers and ultimately the oceans. Recently, one of Destination Asia's clients encouraged the company to engage in more environmentally friendly practices. This led to a reflection of our existing practices — think shutting off lights and air conditioning in vacant rooms, recycling paper by printing on both sides and using LED lightbulbs — and the development of a multifaceted plan that shows our concrete stance on the use of plastics. For instance, urging clients to put drinking water in reusable containers. Internally, we are also reducing the use of plastic straws and bottled waters; it is our goal that we can eradicate the use of plastic straws and cups altogether in 24 months. In our personal lives, the use of plastic bottles for drinking water and cardboard cups for coffee is a much-loved pastime. A simple way to reducing our usage of hard- to-deteriorate plastic containers is to bring reusable mugs to our favourite coffee bars. These are empty when lightweight, and can easily fit into a laptop bag or purse. And the next time you are in a fancy restaurant, just say "no" to imported bottled water from Europe or Fiji. If we must have bottled water, it can be sourced locally. Fundamentally, the first step begins with each and every one of us. We must start from our own use of consumables and make amends for our past activities. Almost every one of us in the industry has the capability to influence others about the use of reusables and recyclables. And importantly, not all of these initiatives will involve additional cost. Some are in fact cost saving such as the elimination of bottled water in hotel and exhibition centres. While there will be a slight increase in manpower cost to have staff serve and replenish water, there will be a direct cost saving generated by the elimination of plastic containers. When Destination Asia started on this journey, we enlisted the aid of UN-related organisation Travelife. Check out their website, travelife.org, and get started on the sustainability path. CONTENTS 3 TALKING POINT Frazzled by robots in Tokyo 6 TECH TALKING Turning lookers into bookers 14 TOUR OPERATORS How to fix overtourism 21 AVIATION World's longest flight now up in the air 22 BEST OF GLOBAL WRAP The best of the news across Asia Pacific Above: Izumi, a bath modelled after the traditional Japanese "onsen" on board Princess Cruises' Diamond Princess. Right: The aerial overview of the 6.5-hectare Chill Cove, a man-made seawater lagoon in Treasure Bay Bintan. 12 Right: Facial recognition check-in technology pilot at two Marriott International properties in China will begin from July 2018. 8 18 Originally from California, Bob Guy served as Group General Manager of Tour East and was Co-Founder and Regional Managing Director of Pacific World before joining Destination Asia in 2010 as Managing Director of Destination Asia companies in Singapore and Malaysia. Now semi- retired, he provides consulting for companies, NTOs, ports and cruise lines, as well as for Destination Asia.

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