So the tourism industry is going green. With eco-sensitivity all the rage these days, hotels and tour operators are jumping on the bandwagon to suggest they are "green-friendly". Well, that's all very laudable.As a result, a number of eco-friendly resorts are springing up in Thailand, notably on the islands around Phuket. Their biggest claim is that only local materials are used in building their rustic villas and rooms. Yes, driftwood, sand and rocks are combined to give the resorts a home-made feel. Their brochures trumpet their green credentials, subliminally urging tourists to avoid their European-style competitors.
Now everyone here knows that the real expense in building an island resort is the cost of all the imported products, the fancy bathrooms, the tilework and the magnificent furnishings. So the "eco-local" outfits are saving a whole lot of money. That surely means that they can charge far less than the nasty luxury resorts using all the expensive imported goods. A fat chance! Check any one of them out and you'll discover that they are even more expensive!
And they will still have the cheek to ask you to save electricity (yipeee, a lower electricity bill) and to restrict the washing of towels (less work, less staff, lower pay). But they won't ask you to cut down on submitting your personal laundry at exhorbitant prices. Or to cut down on drinking Perrier or Evian water, which has used up god-knows-how-much fuel to be shipped across the globe. They'll be happy to offer local dishes using local ingredients served by local staff members getting local salaries, but certainly not at local prices. Oh, no, you'll pay a fortune and they'll even whack a 17% tax and service charge on top of that.
Now, if they really were committed to being eco-friendly, they would have their own rubbish disposal and water-rejuvenation plants. Oh, don't be silly - those things cost money. So, in most cases, the sewage flows straight into the sea...virtually under the noses of the guests happily sipping lemongrass tea or watermelon shakes (whooopee, those nice cheap local ingredients again!)
It's the same with airlines. They have been very keen to promote healthier flying. Their sage advice is:- Drink only water during the flight (and avoid those pricey fine wines and spirits)
- Eat a salad or a light meal (and they can cut down on the lobster, fillet steak and creamy sauces)
- Exercise regularly during the flight (but no chance of giving you any more space or, horror of horrors, providing a fitness area on board).
So, the rule seems to be: The industry is committed to eco-friendly policies wherever they can save a bit of money. And if they can promote themselves as being totally green (while saving a whole whack of money), they can raise the prices. There seems to be no limit to what 'friends of the planet' will pay.
Isn't it a clever scam? Just wish I had thought of it first.
