Guangdong Provincial Tourism Bureau has issued a circular on discontinuing the use of consumable amenities at star-rated hotels in the province.
According to the circular, from April 1, 2010, all star-grade hotels in Guangdong will no longer provide amenities in guest rooms and they will only offer and deliver the amenities to the room at the guests' request.
The circular says that hotels need to notify customers about the change at the their information desk and in their hotel room, and travel agencies should remind tourists to take daily necessities with them before leaving for a trip. The circular states that hotels need to completely cancel the provision of consumable amenities from October 1, 2010.
There has long been a call to discontinue the use of consumable amenities in hotels in China. In 2008, China's State Council issued a document called Actions on National Energy Saving which said that hotels shall not forwardly provide consumable bathing products to customers. The Recycled Economy Promotion Law enacted on January 1, 2009 also pointed out that the catering, entertainment and hospitality industries shall reduce or stop the use of any products that are wasting resources and causing pollution.
