(VOVworld)- A workshop on promoting environmentally friendly tourism opened in Hanoi on Friday as part of the first Vietnam International Travel Mart 2013. The workshop attendees discussed green energy solutions to save power and water in hotels. Hotels often spend 6% of its revenue for energy expenses while those who apply energy saving methods spend only 1.5 to 2%.  Tao Van Nghe,Director General of Rex hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, says: "Since we installed the solar power system in the hotel, we have saved more than 30,000 USD a year. We spent about 1.5 million USD on this system and after 5 years, we got our investment money refunded. We also called on our customers to save water and electricity in order to protect the environment and the earth".

The same day, Thailand’s Tourism General Department held a seminar on promoting tourism cooperation between Thailand and ASEAN member countries. General Director of Thailand’s Tourism General Department Surapon Svetasreni introduced a panoramic view on tourism between ASEAN member countries after the bloc becomes a common community in 2015. Last year, the number of Vietnamese tourists to Thailand increased by nearly 25% over the previous year.

Rex Hotel- Photo: hochiminhcitytravel.net