Basic HTML Version
timeout
51
All Accor’s hotels, including the
newcomers such as Pullman Hanoi, No-
votel Premier Han River and Novotel Sai-
gon, are building a solid plan for more
periodical CSR activities so that there will
be more opportunities for the business
to reach out to the local community.
Novotel Danang Premier Han River
has been open for business for almost
seven months, creating new jobs for
hundreds of people, applying energy
saving methods and using environ-
ment-friendly products. It has also par-
ticipated in a tree planting campaign
and organised a charity event at the Red
Cross Danang Orphanage to sponsor
rice, milk powder and diapers.
In terms of travel agencies, such
companies as Buffalo Tours and Lux-
ury Travel have created responsible
tours. They offer various choices of
tour schedules to encourage tourists to
protect the environment and preserve
natural and cultural heritage.
Not only big groups run CSR ac-
tivities, small companies are taking ac-
tion. Indochina Sails, for example, un-
dertakes many meaningful activities to
help the children of floating villages in
Halong Bay while VSpirit Cruises en-
courages all staff to collect rubbish and
asks tourists to save water.
Small but meaningful actions are
raising hopes for a cleaner industry
and raising the awareness of the local
community about protecting culture
and nature.
Challenges remain
Although Vietnam’s government
has introduced new rules and regula-
tions, enforcement is still sporadic, le-
gal interpretations vary, and corruption
remains rampant.
“CSR in Vietnam is not as good as
we wish as most of us are small compa-
nies without any social orientation,” says
Le Van Quang, marketing manager of
VSpirit Cruises. “Though there are more
local tourism firms interested in CSR,
their actions are mainly spontaneous
and sporadic. And due to the unhealthy
competition in business, most firms take
their own action without any coopera-
tion to create a great strength.”
According to tourism experts, CSR
activities should take the views of local
staff into consideration. Local problems
and needs should be discovered at the
early planning stage, through dialogue
with regional governments, the media,
NGOs and others.
“Communication channels with
companies should be strengthened, to
help us provide information on the re-
sults of our efforts,” says Le Phuong
Nhi, manager of Indochina Sails.
Businesses should also plan stra-
tegic efforts to communicate their CSR
policies and efforts to the local public.
Establishing tie-ups with the various
stakeholders and participating in CSR
symposiums are two ways to make pro-
gress toward this goal.