Radosław Dziuba
Department of World Economy and European Integration Institute of Economics, University of Lodz, Poland
CERTIFIED ECOLOGY HOTEL AS AN EXAMPLE OF INNOVATION IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY. MAIN REASONS FOR THE DECISION ON IMPLEMENTATION – EVIDENCE FROM POLAND
Despite the global recession, tourism industry is one area of the global economy, which has the greatest growth opportunities. While many sectors of the global economy have a problem with the financial crisis, the tourism industry continues to grow.
UNWTO forecasts concerning the movement of travelers say their number will reach 1.6 billion people in 2020, it is expected that these will be intra-regional travel (1.2 bln.) and long-distance travel (about 380 million). The forecast of the total number of tourist trips by region shows that by 2020, the largest regions by this criterion remain Europe (717 million tourists), East Asia and Pacific (397 million), the Americas (282 million), Africa, Middle East and South Asia.
Poland, on the background of the world, in terms of attracting foreign tourists, takes the 20th position and is among such countries as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, ahead ofCroatia, Hungary and Tunisia.
Following the development of tourism it should be taken into account that there is the need to increase accommodation. It is necessary to fully exploit the potential of the region in this field.
Among any decisions related to new investments or improvement and adaptation of existing hotel facilities, attention should be paid to sustainable development arising from the general policy. Therefore, it is important that the increase of accommodation takes into account the technological innovations and the resulting green solutions to lower CO2 emissions. This allows to achieve additional benefits and improve the competitiveness of the hospitality industry.
The ecological approach to the management of any objects is now a trend in the most developed economies of the world. Pro-environmental management does not only meet the technical criteria for the various objects used by the company, this is also primarily the environmental policy of the entire facility as of technical standards, and ending with the development of "thinking green" customers and employees. An example of such an approach in managing the hotel facility may be to issue the eco-certificate "Clean Tourism".
The ecology hotel is environmentally conscious and qualified for tourism. It promotes local, regional and global ecosystem improvement, while allowing to reduce its costs. Eco-hotels are an important factor for tourism development, as a part of the establishment of sustainable tourism development by the European Union by:
– showing positive examples of caring for the environment of tourism,
– increasing the attractiveness of the region for tourists and travelers,
– reducing the operating costs of the hotel,
– implementing innovative management solutions at accommodation place.
An eco-certified eco hotel is above all reliable users to confirm green initiatives taken by the object, as well as being a kind of framework that can help give direction and coordinate planned activities.
"Clean Tourism" is the first environmental certificate in Poland dedicated to the tourism industry. It is granted to hotels, hostels, guest houses, guest accommodation and others due to their implementing cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions, when they want to reduce operating costs, improve quality of services and increase their competitiveness.
The certification system "Clean Tourism" has been developed based on European experience, especially Norwegian, and by an independent non-governmental organization – Environmental Partnership Foundation. The certificate covers tourist facilities that are the most important for providing activities and the most important for the impact on environmental issues. The objective criteria to determine the limits of the main factors of environmental impact are the three stages of the life cycle of tourist accommodation service (purchasing, service, waste). In particular, they are intended to:
– reduce energy consumption,
– reduce water consumption,
– reduce waste production,
– promote information and education on environmental protection.
Environmental Partnership Foundation after two years of activities in the organic certification "Clean Tourism" has made an audit of all 85 certified facilities. The study results can be seen in monthly reduction in CO2 emissions of the Certificate of "Clean Tourism," a total of 22%. This result consists of reducing CO2 emissions for electricity by 17%, the thermal energy by 12%, water consumption by 13% and waste by 80%.
An example would be to invest in water control devices. For organizations such an investment could result in a monthly saving of about 2 108 m3 of water. Annually, these actions can save more than 25 300 m3 of water. The savings would affect not only the lower water consumption, but also smaller quantities of sewage and smaller quantity of raw materials needed to heat water.
Ecological management of hotels is the future which we invest in, as it can have not only purely economic benefits, but also environmental improvements which will contribute to improving the quality of life for all inhabitants of the earth.
The following article is an attempt to analyze the fundamental premises of implementing the guidelines of organic certification, "Clean Tourism". Besides, it is to encourage the pursuit of eco-hotels, which is now a world trend in the hospitality industry in sustainable tourism development.