Ms. Aireen Omar, CEO of AirAsia Bhd. Malaysia, explained that GREEN24 is an environmental program by AirAsia that was established to foster an environmental consciousness amongst local residents of tourist sites so that they take part in reducing waste or even reduce their energy consumption to cut carbon emissions.
The regional level program, which involves the entire AirAsia Group, was initiated in November of 2015 with a call to all AirAsia airlines to establish activities against climate change appropriate to their country. Examples include AirAsia Group joining with Tune Group in November 2015 to invite 150 volunteers to clean up Kanching Rainforest of Rawang, Malaysia; collecting more than 600 kilograms of waste. Similarly, in January of 2016, over 2,000 volunteers joined together to clean up Mae Rampueng beach of Rayong province in Thailand.
"The program has been very well received in every country but we chose to hold it again in the Thai city of Pattaya as it is a very popular travel destination known across the globe. If we can build awareness in the area, we will see widespread benefits" Ms. Omar remarked.
Mr. Ittiphol Khunpleum, Governor of Pattaya, said his city was ecstatic to be part of GREEN24 and to receive all the benefits of the program. He pointed out that as a major tourist destination, Pattaya receives a large number of visitors every year, making it especially important for its locals to maintain its environment, so that it may continue to attract travelers and offer them a good impression of Thailand.
Ms. Witchunee Kantapeng, Director of Thai Air Asia Ground Operations, said that for the activity, Thailand was able to welcome volunteers from across the region in which AirAsia operates with participants from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines all helping to collect garbage along Pattaya's beaches. Over 60 of them took part in a diving expedition to clean up the waters off of Koh Sak, joining another 300 volunteers from the area. All together the activity provided a great opportunity for all involved to work together for the environment, for AirAsia to bring together volunteers from a variety of countries and continued the success of a previous incarnation in Rayong province.