BARRIERS TO ASEAN GREEN HOTEL STANDARD IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY: A CASE STUDY IN HA NOI

Abstract

In a wave for sustainable tourism development towards environment protection, a plenty of ASEAN hotels have implemented Environmental management system (EMS) or ASEAN green hotel standard (AGHS). Yet, the application of AGHS is still limited in hotels in Vietnamase well as in Hanoi. This exploratory study was conducted to identify the barriers to AGHS in the hotel industry in Hanoi. A qualitative study was carried out via in-depth interviews with 5 hotels certified with this certificate and other 5 hotels that have not been certified yet. These hotels are located in Hanoi. Seven barriers were identified that hinder hotels certified with ASEAN green hotel certificate along with two barriers preventing not-yet-certified hotels applying the standard. Implications of the findings were discussed, while recommendations were made to reduce the barriers inhibiting the adoption of AGHS in the hotel industry in Hanoi.