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Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) is spearheading a major campaign to deliver substantial sector-wide energy, water and waste reduction by the end of 2010.
Under its industry-leading Environmental, Health and Safety Management System (EHSMS) for the emirate’s entire tourism sector, ADTA is targeting 10 per cent energy, 20 per cent water and 20 per cent waste-to-landfill savings over the coming year.
“These ambitious targets are aimed at improving the environmental performance of hotels so that they are in line with, if not better than, the world’s greenest,” says Nasser Al Reyami, ADTA’s Tourism Standards Director.
The initiatives have been rolled out in a series of EHSMS seminars and workshops to help stakeholders – hotels in particular – kick-start programmes aimed at meeting the 12-month targets. The seminars have introduced delegates to EHSMS, as well as outlining how organisations can develop and audit an individual entity system.
“We have received a tremendous response to the initiative from more than 130 representatives from the emirate’s 113 hotels and hotel apartments,” says Al Reyami. “Participants have been extremely positive about the initiative, viewing it as a significant investment in the hotel sector.”
ADTA’s EHSMS is the first in the world developed to encompass an entire tourism sector.
“Traditionally EHSMS has been applied only at an entity level,” says Al Reyami. “Our system covers all environmental, health and safety aspects of hotels, hotel apartments and tourism operators within the emirate and requires each of the entities to develop their own systems.
“The initiative helps fulfil ADTA’s regulatory obligations under the Executive Council’s Environment, Health and Safety decree of June 2009 and is essential in helping to achieve the authority’s vision of promoting a globally recognised, outstanding and sustainable tourism destination. In taking this initiative we recognise the Authority’s responsibility to the government and community to ensure the sustainability of the industry we serve.”
ADTA has pledged to support its hospitality sector throughout the entire EHSMS project implementation. “We will provide subsidised training workshops to help those in the hospitality industry develop their own systems,” says Al Reyami.
“The requirements have a solid business outcome for the entire tourism sector. They will boost standards, lift Abu Dhabi’s appeal as a pleasant and safe place to visit and deliver substantial ROI for accommodation providers as it increases their business.”
The EHSMS roll-out has been given an enthusiastic welcome by stakeholders. “This is a fantastic ADTA initiative,” says Eva Lowela Moraca of Vision Hotel Apartments. “Everyone is now starting to realise the importance of EHSMS. This is a big step for all hotels and tourism sector partners and it is an essential move forward.”
Some participants say EHSMS issues are now involved in many guest enquiries. “There are a number of our guests who express concern for the environmnent and they often put forward suggestions,” says Nicola Donato of Platinum Hotel Apartments. "This shows it is an issue and that working together for a better environment can benefit the hotel business.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
