Thailand's Green Leaf Foundation has launched a no-smoking scheme for hotels - including smoke-free rooms and non-smoking staff - aimed at tapping health-conscious tourists as well as reducing operating costs.

In support of the concept, the Thai Hotels Association (THA) plans to send letters to hundreds of its members nationwide inviting them to join the programme.

THA vice president Prakit Chinamourpong said the programme would help hotels improve their services and also attract a more health-conscious clientele.

He said hotels joining the programme would be awarded gold or silver stars. Hotels with 75 per cent or more no-smoking rooms and 85 per cent or more non-smoking staff qualify for a gold star.

A silver star will be awarded for hotels with 65 per cent to 75 per cent no-smoking rooms while 75 per cent or more of its staff must be non-smokers. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is also supporting the Green Leaf programme by publicising smoke-free hotels in its overseas campaigns.

"It doesn't mean that guests cannot smoke in the hotel. Hotels can still provide smoking rooms, but they should increase the number of no-smoking rooms to grab a bigger share of the market," Prakit said.

He said smokers could use the rooms' open-air balconies or smoking areas provided by the hotels. Prakit said in order to join the programme properties must submit an application to the foundation. They will then be asked to complete a questionnaire and undergo further inspections.

The Green Leaf Foundation hopes to get 300 hotels to join the programme initially. There are currently 17 hotels around the country claiming to be smoke-free, including the Siam City, Siam Bay Shore, Siam Bay View, Dusit Thani, Samui Amanda Resort and Grand de Ville Bangkok.

"There are many advantages in becoming a smoke-free hotel. First, you save costs on cleaning carpets, linen and ashtrays. Smoke-free rooms are also safer as they remove the risk of accidental fires and burns to the furniture and floor," Prakit said.

The THA will propose the Green Leaf smoke-free hotel programme at the Asean Hotels and Restaurant Association meeting next month in Hua Hin.

Suchat Sritama

 The Nation