Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses: Doctorates and Masters Theses 1-1-2002 How green is your hotel? : an examination of environmentally friendly practices of the Phuket hotel industry Aungkan Thongkao Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses Part of the Hospitality Administration and Management Commons Recommended Citation Thongkao, A. (2002). How green is your hotel? : an examination of environmentally friendly practices of the Phuket hotel industry. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/739 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/739 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. 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An Examination of Environmentally Friendly Practices of the Phuket Hotel Industry A. Thongkao 2002 MBus (Hospitality Management) How Green Is Your Hotel? An Examination of Environmentally Friendly Practices of the Phuket Hotel Industry By Aungkan Thongkao A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the A ward of Master of Business (Hospitality Management) At the Faculty of Business and Public Management, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia Supervisor: Dr. Martin O'Neill Date of Submission: 11 November 2002 ABSTRACT The global hospitality industry is currently facing many challenges from the external business environment. These include the effects of global recession, a downturn in overall trade and an increased demand for service excellence from a much more quality conscious clientele. A more recent challenge, however, relates to an increase in global awareness of environmental issues. Contemporary consumers require goods and services to be produced, or delivered, in environmentally friendly ways. As a result, managers are being forced to reconsider their business strategies and activities. Indeed a wide range of industries has already responded to consumers' dictates on conservation issues. It is now universally accepted that organisations can only achieve their strategic objectives by adopting an environmentally friendly philosophy. The global hotel industry, like any other industry sector, can no longer resist this trend. This study, therefore, shall examine the extent of environmental management practice in the hotel industry, which is one of the major sectors responsible for the development of sustainable tourism. In particular, this study investigated the extent of Green Practice within the Phuket hotel industry, in Thailand. It reports the findings from a two-stage methodology that was designed to shed light on both the current extent of environmental practice within the Phuket hotel industry, as well as the motivation(s) for such practice. Empirical research is reported on a survey of Phuket hotels, with results suggesting that whilst there is evidence of environmentally sensitive practice within the Phuket hotel industry, this is not widespread and rather uncoordinated. The results further suggest low levels of environmental awareness amongst Phuket hoteliers and that where environmentally sensitive practices have been operationalised, this has been due more to the search for bottom line savings than any internalised believe in the value of any such practice. DECLARATION "l certify that this thesis does not incorporate, without acknowledgment, any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any institution of higher education and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it does not contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the text". I I /Vo Vr.?-IM te:::,v:? oe:?~ Date ......................................... ACKNOWLEGEMENTS I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my supervisor, Dr Martin O'Neill, for his invaluable assistance, tremendous support, guidance, patience and availability throughout the tenn ofmy Master Degree. I would also like to thank my dad and my brother, who have unfailingly stood by my side throughout the duration of this study, providing support, inspiration and encouragement. Most importantly, I would also like to dedicate this thesis to my mother Mrs. Chusri Thongkao. Special thanks to Dr Judith Rochecouste, Academic Writing Consultant at the Graduate School, for her meaningful assistance in rectifying my English grammar and providing suggestion. Without her ability to monitor and correct my path of work, this thesis would have never been finished. Thank you to Mr. Lai Thuan Ho at the Department of Psychology, who was very helpful in providing computer facilities and encouragement with this thesis. J would also like to extend my appreciation to Mrs. Catherine Samananda, an educational consultant at Edith Cowan University, for her support and assistance. Special thanks go to all of my friends for their understanding and valMable comments throughout this period. I would like to draw specific attention to the close circle of Thai friends in Perth for their interest in my thesis and emotional support. Finally, but most importantly, thanks are due to my girlfriend, Pitchanuch, for her unceasing encouragement, support, assistance, advice, patience, and love, and to whom I also dedicate this thesis. Ill TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................... [ DECLARATION ................................................................................................................................... 11 ACKNO\VLEGEMENTS .................................................................................................................... 111 TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................... IV TABLE OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... VIII LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................... IX CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION I.O INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 2 I. I BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY ............................................................................................ 3 I .2 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ............................................................................................. 6 1.3 THE PRIMARY RESEARCH QUESTIONS .............................................................................. 9 1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ............................................... -...................................................... 10 1.5 DEFINITION OF TERMS ........................................................................................................ 10 CHAPTER TWO THE HISTORY OF ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAl!\ABLE DEVELOPMENT 2. I THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN DAY ENV: RONMENT ALISM ................................. 13 2.1.1 The Medie\'al View of the Man - Nature Relationship ...................................................... 14 2.1.2 The Rise ofCapitalism ....................................................................................................... 15 2.1.3 The Mechanistic View of the Scientific Revolution .......................................................... 15 2.1.4 Environmental Concern arising from the Industrial Revolution and the Rise of the Romantic Philosophy ......................................................................... 16 2.2 CONTRADICTIONS IN THE DOMINANT WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL PARADIGM ........................................................................................... 17 2.3 MODERN DAY ENVIRONMENTALISM TOWARD THE GREEN PARADIGM ............... 18 2.3. I Influential Publications ...................................................................................................... I 9 2.3.2 Dimensions of Environmental Degradation Change from Local to Global ....................... 20 2.3.3 Environmental Disasters .................................................................................................... 2 I 2.3.4 Environmental Lobbyists ................................................................................................... 2 I 2.3.5 The Rise