POE PUSHES FOR RESPONSIBLE, SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

DAGUPAN—The Philippines should shift its approaches of promoting the country’s attractions into campaigns that encourage responsible and sustainable tourism, Sen. Grace Poe said Friday.

In a speech at the 2018 Hospitality and Tourism Enrichment Conference here, Poe said the country has a lot of potential, but irresponsible and unregulated development resulted in environmental problems of world-renowned destinations.

EXHORT - Senator Grace Poe exhorts more than 500 college students in Pangasinan about sustainable and responsible tourism during the 2018 Hospitality & Tourism Enrichment Conference held last Friday at the fully air conditioned Arzadon Gym at Leisure Coast Resort in Barangay Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City. MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

“Let us not just promote tourism, but learn to promote responsible and sustainable tourism,” Poe told more than 500 college students from various schools taking up tourism-related courses gathered at the Arzadon Gym of Colegio de Dagupan.

In order to achieve this, Poe pushed for Senate Bill No. 1687 or the proposed Sustainable Coastal Tourism Act that mandates the creation of a “super-body” that will establish standards for effective coastal management and provide incentives to local government units that implement sustainable tourism models.

Poe said tourism developments must be hinged on minimizing negative social and environmental impacts, as the tourism industry is an important sector that helps in poverty alleviation.

The government is eyeing a two-month shutdown of popular beach destination Boracay island in Aklan province, after the President ordered the Environment department to pursue a crackdown against erring establishments built their facilities indiscriminately and violated environmental laws.

Poe also voiced support to the President’s directive of fixing Boracay’s problems, saying the 1,032-hectare resort island is our “asset” and yet violators are “squandering” it.

“We have the most beautiful beaches in the world. Our coastline stretches for some 36,000 kilometers and encompasses around 800 municipalities,” the senator said, adding that the public and the private sectors must use development strategies of the nation’s precious resources that are environmentally friendly.

"Linisin natin ang ating mga coastlines at karagatan. Kaya nga yung tinakot ng Presidente yung mga establisimyento sa Boracay kasi imagine yung basura diretso sa lugar na pinagsi-swimming-an natin so kung hindi sila compliant, dapat ay ipasara ang mga establisimyento na nakakasira sa kalikasan," Poe later told reporters in a chance interview.

She also said called for “the right and appropriate infrastructure,” which included moves to “improve our airports that serve as gateways to our provinces.”

In January, tourist arrivals hit an all-time high of 732,506 foreign visitors in the Philippines, breaching last year's figure by 16%.

The tourism industry also contributes 10% to the country’s domestic growth, generates ₱225 billion in annual revenues and provides jobs to some 5 million Filipinos.

"Revenues generated from tourism can help alleviate poverty; build hospitals, schools, and bridges; and give ordinary Filipinos a better quality of life,” Poe emphasized. (30)