FOREWORD

Human activities, including tourism, are responsible for several and significant impacts on the environment: decreased water quality, increased pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, depletion of natural resources or contribution to climate change, to name a few. All the latter threaten life on earth and can already be observed and felt, particularly in at-risk regions like Southeast Asia.

Within the Energy & Environment Department of Artelia in Ho Chi Minh City, we individually and collectively have a passion for sustainability. This has always been the foundation of the work we conduct with private and public organizations, including hospitality actors, to assess and reduce their environmental footprint and to develop more sustainable solutions for the future.

We were therefore thrilled to partner with IECD and ASSET-H&C and participate in the elaboration of this Eco-Guide. This was the opportunity for us to put our core expertise at the service of a project for the common good, one that aims at disseminating tools to enable actors of the sector, schools and businesses, to get started. We are glad we could do our part by sharing our knowledge with those willing to take a first step towards eco-responsibility, and hope this will contribute to trigger change on a wider scale. At EXO Foundation, we believe that responsible travel is a key to the sustainable development of Asia. Together with EXO Travel, we promote it throughout the whole tourism industry in all destinations we operate in, by minimizing negative impacts and maximizing positive ones for both the environments, and the people living in them.

Being fortunate enough to live and operate within Asia’s marvelous natural and cultural heritage, we see it as our responsibility to be conscientious about where we tread and what impact this has on the world around us. By supporting local charities, enterprises and organizations that contribute to social, cultural and environmental causes, we are able to maximize the benefits that tourism has on locals and their economy.

We are proud to be partnering with IECD and ASSET-H&C, who provide opportunities for the less fortunate and set a great example in guiding the tourism industry towards a more sustainable path. We truly believe responsible tourism is the future of travel, bringing people closer together and developing a style of travel that is conducive to making the world a better place.

Nicolas JALLADE

Head of Energy & Environment Department, ARTELIA Vietnam Alexandra MICHAT Nia KLATTE

Director, Sustainability Coordinator EXO Foundation (Laos & Vietnam), EXO Travel