Department of Tourism's "A path towards sustainability: Sustainable tourism in the next 6 years."

Summary

In her keynote at the Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum, Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco emphasizes the Philippine Department of Tourism's commitment to sustainable tourism. Highlighting the community-based eco-tourism initiative in Oslob, Cebu, she underscores the importance of preserving natural resources and the environment. The department is focusing on enhancing tourism infrastructure, digitalization, and promoting domestic tourism, while ensuring the industry is ecologically sustainable. The goal is to balance business opportunities with social responsibility to ensure the Philippines remains a beautiful and enriching destination for future generations.

Takeaways

• 🌿 The Department of Tourism is prioritizing eco-friendly tourism as a core aspect of their strategy for the next six years.
• 🏞️ The municipality of Oslom in Cebu has successfully implemented a sustainable tourism initiative that has been recognized globally.
• 🚣‍♂️ The boho River Cruise in Oslom is a thriving example of community-based eco-tourism that has been operational since 2009.
• 🤝 Strong tourism governance is crucial for developing sustainable, long-lasting eco-tourism initiatives.
• 🌱 The local government unit in Oslom educated the community on the importance of preserving natural resources, leading to a shift from harmful practices to stewardship of the boho River.
• 🥗 Demonstrating food security as a way of life, the community grows and serves their own food, promoting an appreciation for nature as a food source.
• 🚮 Effective waste management is a key component of maintaining the natural environment, with a focus on organic materials and minimal plastic use.
• 🏆 The Philippine tourism awards are being launched to recognize enterprises that promote sustainable tourism.
• 🌐 The Philippine Experience initiative aims to showcase the country's cultural heritage and arts, promoting a multi-dimensional tourism experience.
• 🌱 The Department of Tourism is working on institutionalizing sustainable development practices through education to ensure long-term appreciation and preservation of natural resources.
• 💹 Tourism is a major economic contributor to the Philippines, and the Department of Tourism has identified seven main objectives to anchor its programs and plans, with sustainable tourism at the core.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum?

The main focus of the Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum is to discuss sustainable tourism and how it can be made a priority in the Philippines.

Who is Christina Garcia Frasco?

Christina Garcia Frasco is the Secretary of the Department of Tourism in the Philippines.

What is the significance of Cebu in the context of the speech?

Cebu is significant because it is the home province of Secretary Frasco and it is highlighted as a region where tourism is a vital part of the economy and where sustainable tourism practices are being implemented.

What is the Bohol River Cruise and how does it relate to sustainable tourism?

The Bohol River Cruise is a successful sustainable tourism initiative in the municipality of Oslob, Cebu, which demonstrates sustainable tourism practices and community involvement, contributing to the local economy and preserving the natural environment.

What were the initial environmental issues in Oslob before the Bohol River Cruise initiative?

Before the Bohol River Cruise initiative, the area faced environmental issues such as river pollution, mangrove cutting, wildlife hunting, and threats to marine resources.

How has the local government unit in Oslob contributed to sustainable tourism?

The local government unit in Oslob has contributed to sustainable tourism by reaching out to the community, providing education on the importance of preserving natural resources, and implementing sustainable practices.

What is the importance of food security in the context of the Bohol River Cruise?

Food security is important as it supports the livelihood of the community, promotes the use of locally grown food, and raises awareness about the preservation of nature as a source of food.

How does waste management play a role in the sustainability of the Bohol River Cruise?

Waste management is crucial as it involves the use of organic materials, minimizing plastic use, and ensuring minimal waste generation to protect the environment.

What is the carrying capacity and how does it apply to the Bohol River Cruise?

The carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of people that an area can accommodate without causing degradation to the environment. The Bohol River Cruise strictly implements carrying capacity to prevent overdevelopment and overuse.

What are the seven main objectives of the Department of Tourism under the Marcos Administration?

The seven main objectives are: 1) Improvement of Tourism infrastructure and accessibility, 2) Digitalization and connectivity, 3) Enhancing the tourist experience, 4) Equalization of tourism product development and promotion, 5) Diversification through multi-dimensional tourism, 6) Maximization of domestic tourism, and 7) Strengthening of Tourism governance.

How does the Department of Tourism plan to ensure the sustainability of the Philippine tourism industry?

The Department of Tourism plans to ensure sustainability by reconfiguring accreditation standards, launching the Philippine tourism awards, promoting the Philippine experience, conducting cultural and heritage mapping, and working with local government units and private stakeholders.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Sustainable Tourism in the Philippines

The first paragraph introduces the keynote presentation by the Department of Tourism at the Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum. Secretary Christina Frasco discusses the government's plan to make eco-friendly tourism a priority over the next six years. She highlights the municipality of Oslob in Cebu as a successful example of sustainable tourism, emphasizing the community's role in preserving natural resources and transforming the area into a thriving eco-tourism destination through the Bohol River Cruise initiative. The paragraph underscores the importance of strong tourism governance and community involvement in creating sustainable tourism practices.

05:03

🌾 Tourism as a Social and Economic Enterprise

The second paragraph delves into the social and economic benefits of sustainable tourism in Oslob, particularly the Bohol River Cruise. It discusses how the community has embraced food security and waste management as part of their sustainable lifestyle. The initiative has not only improved the local economy by creating livelihood opportunities but also regulated tourism to prevent overdevelopment. The paragraph also mentions the Philippine government's efforts to promote sustainable tourism through legislation and awards, as well as the importance of education in maintaining sustainable practices.

10:05

🏞️ Promoting Philippine Tourism and Cultural Heritage

The third paragraph outlines the Department of Tourism's initiatives to promote Philippine tourism, including the Philippine Experience, which showcases the country's cultural heritage and arts. It discusses plans to conduct cultural and heritage mapping activities to equalize tourism promotion nationwide. The paragraph also highlights the department's role in addressing climate change and ensuring the industry's contribution to the economy, with a focus on sustainable development and recovery post-pandemic.

15:06

🌟 Sustainable Tourism for Economic Resurgence

The fourth and final paragraph emphasizes the importance of sustainable tourism for the Philippines' economic recovery and future. Secretary Frasco outlines the department's seven main objectives, which include improving tourism infrastructure, digitalization, enhancing tourist experiences, equalizing tourism product development, diversifying the tourism portfolio, maximizing domestic tourism, and strengthening tourism governance. The paragraph concludes with a call to stakeholders to collaborate in preserving natural attractions and ensuring a positive impact on destinations and host communities.

Keywords

💡Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable tourism refers to the practice of traveling in a way that minimizes negative impacts on the environment and local communities while also benefiting the economy. In the script, Secretary Christina Frasco discusses how the Department of Tourism in the Philippines is prioritizing sustainable tourism, aiming to make it a cornerstone of their economic recovery and long-term development. An example given is the boho River Cruise in the municipality of Aloguinsan, which has been successful in demonstrating sustainable practices since 2009.

💡Eco-Friendly Tourism

Eco-friendly tourism is a subset of sustainable tourism that emphasizes environmental conservation and the use of eco-friendly practices. The script mentions how the Administration will make eco-friendly tourism a possibility and a priority, indicating a commitment to preserving natural resources while developing the tourism industry.

💡Community-Based Initiatives

Community-based initiatives involve local communities in the planning, management, and benefits of tourism projects. The script highlights the boho River Cruise as an example of a successful community-based initiative where the local government unit reached out to the community, providing them with opportunities to appreciate and harness the boho River as a source of livelihood through tourism.

💡Tourism Governance

Tourism governance involves the management and regulation of tourism activities to ensure sustainability and community benefit. The script discusses how strong tourism governance has enabled the community to govern itself in terms of running the boho River Cruise, demonstrating theories of sustainability that are often difficult to implement.

💡Cultural Heritage

Cultural heritage refers to the traditions, customs, and historical artifacts that a community or society inherits from its past. In the script, Secretary Frasco emphasizes the importance of appreciating and preserving cultural heritage as part of sustainable tourism, which is integral to the Filipino brand and the country's tourism industry.

💡Economic Resurgence

Economic resurgence refers to a period of significant economic growth or recovery after a period of decline. The script mentions that tourism is identified as a major pillar for economic recovery in the Philippines, with the Department of Tourism aiming to use sustainable tourism practices to bolster the economy.

💡Carry Capacity

Carry capacity is the maximum number of people that can visit a tourist destination without causing damage to the environment or degrading the experience for visitors. The script refers to the strict implementation of carrying capacity in the boho River Cruise area to prevent overdevelopment and overuse.

💡Food Security

Food security means having reliable access to a sufficient amount of affordable, nutritious food. The script mentions food security as a way of life in the boho River Cruise community, where they grow their own food, cook, and serve it to guests, supporting the local livelihood and promoting an appreciation for nature as a source of food.

💡Waste Management

Waste management involves the collection, transportation, disposal, and monitoring of waste materials. In the script, waste management is highlighted as a crucial component of maintaining the boho River Cruise area, with the community using organic materials and minimizing plastic use to ensure minimal environmental impact.

💡Social Enterprise

A social enterprise is an organization that aims to achieve social, cultural, or environmental goals alongside financial sustainability. The script describes how tourism as a social enterprise has benefited the community by allowing members to appreciate the necessity of preserving natural resources to sustain the tourist destination.

💡Ecological Enterprise

An ecological enterprise is a business that prioritizes ecological sustainability and the health of the environment. The script discusses how treating tourism as an ecological enterprise has benefited the boho River Cruise, ensuring that the initiative continues to thrive and positively impact the environment and the community.

Highlights

Day two of the Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum focuses on sustainable tourism.

Secretary Christina Frasco discusses the Department of Tourism's plan for eco-friendly tourism.

Sustainable tourism initiatives in Cebu are highlighted as successful models.

The municipality of Aloguinsan's sustainable tourism initiative with the Boho River Cruise is recognized worldwide.

The Boho River Cruise initiative demonstrates strong tourism governance and community-based eco-tourism.

Local government unit and community collaboration led to a shift from environmental degradation to preservation.

Sustainable practices have transformed former polluters into stewards of the Boho River.

Food security is integrated into the tourism model, with the community growing and serving their own food.

Waste management is a key component, with a focus on organic materials and minimal plastic use.

Tourism as a social enterprise has benefited the community by preserving natural resources.

The carrying capacity of the area is strictly implemented to prevent overdevelopment.

Economic benefits from the Boho River Cruise have led to blossoming livelihoods.

Sustainable tourism is a cornerstone of the Department of Tourism's development strategy.

The Philippine Tourism Awards are launched to recognize sustainable tourism enterprises.

The Philippine Experience initiative aims to promote cultural heritage and arts across the country.

The Department of Tourism is coordinating with local government units for cultural and heritage mapping.

The tourism industry's contribution to the Philippine economy is significant, contributing over 12.8% of GDP pre-pandemic.

The Department of Tourism has identified seven main objectives for post-pandemic recovery and sustainable development.

Sustainable tourism development practices are being institutionalized through education.

The ultimate goal is to make tourism a pillar for economic resurgence while preserving the environment.

Transcripts

now we begin day two of the first Manila

Bulletin sustainability Forum with the

keynote presentation from the Department

of Tourism in the talk a path towards

sustainability sustainable tourism in

the next six years the department will

reveal how this Administration will make

eco-friendly tourism a possibility and a

priority so let's welcome the secretary

of the Department of Tourism secretary

Christina Frasco

foreign

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

I'm Christina Garcia Frasco the

Secretary of Tourism

I'm speaking to you from my home

province of Cebu

in Cebu tourism forms the lifeblood of

our economy

it is the Bedrock upon which the lives

of millions of cebuanos have depended

for their livelihood

in Cebu the culture of Tourism is

introduced to us from a very young age

a love of nature an appreciation for our

culture and Heritage and an awareness of

the importance of preserving our natural

environments that also leads to this

intense sense of pride of being someone

when I was asked by the Manila Bulletin

to give a talk on how sustainable

tourism has changed the game and will

continue to change the game for tourism

I thought of Cebu

particularly the municipality of

allogensan

which has developed a very successful

sustainable tourism initiative together

with a community that has been

recognized worldwide

I'm here in the boho River where the

municipality of allogensan in

coordination with the boho allogens and

eco-tourism Association

runs a boho river cruise

this initiative was founded in 2009

13 years later

it continues to thrive

and give back to the community

by way of the boho River Cruise the

municipality of aloginsan and baitas has

been able to demonstrate theories of

sustainability that are often difficult

to implement

but they have shown us that if you have

strong tourism governance it is totally

possible to be able to develop

eco-tourism community-based initiatives

that will last for a long time and

benefit the community in turn

on the aspect of Tourism governance

the local government unit initially

reached out to the community to give

them an opportunity

to appreciate the boho River as well as

to be able to harness it as a source of

livelihood

through tourism

they started out with capability

building seminars and education

initiatives that allowed the community

to fully appreciate all the components

of the boho River from its varieties of

Mangrove various species of birds as

well as marine life

having a strength and tourism governance

has also allowed the community to be

able to govern itself in terms of

running the boho River

prior to the development of this

initiative in 2009 the baita says that

the residents of this area polluted the

river cut down the mangroves hunted

wildlife and threatened the Marine

Resources in the river

however after persistent efforts by the

local government unit in partnership

with a community at educating the

residents on the importance of

preserving the natural resources in the

area and utilizing the area in a

sustainable way these very certain

persons and their families are now the

ones who act as stewards of the boho

River

this only goes to show that when

sustainability is adopted as a way of

life it can lead to tourism that is

transformative and regenerative

here in the Baja River they have also

demonstrated food security as a way of

life

[Music]

they grow their own food

which they then cook and serve to the

guests that come here

the community is made up of farmers and

fishermen and by way of using food

security as a way of life they're able

to support the livelihood of the area

and give the community an appreciation

to the preservation of nature as a

source for the food that they grow

waste management is also a very

important component of the maintenance

of this area

they use organic materials as well as

minimize the use of plastic and ensure

that the waste that they generate is as

minimal as possible so as not to

negatively affect the environments in

the area

on the aspect of Tourism as a social

Enterprise it has greatly benefited the

community because it has allowed members

of this community to appreciate the

necessity of preserving the natural

resources of the area to be able to

sustain the life cycle of the tourist

destination as a matter of fact as early

as when they started this initiative in

2009 they have already strictly

implemented the carrying capacity of the

area that has also allowed them to be

able to closely manage and regulate

the area itself so that it is not over

developed or overused

as an economic Enterprise

livelihoods have blossomed from the

bohot river cruise from those that

supply the food to those that Supply the

materials that are used as they serve

their guests from the fishermen

themselves who have now become tour

guides in the area as well as the

farmers who assist in ensuring that

there is always an available supply of

food to serve the guests most

importantly the treatment of Tourism as

an ecological Enterprise has greatly

benefited the boho River Cruise because

this initiative has now been around for

13 years and is only growing stronger

even coming out of the pandemic having

already received at least 50 000

visitors since our borders reopened

despite the growing number of tourists

that come to the area

they are able to ensure a close

regulation of the scheduling of the

visits so that the carrying capacity is

never breached and that the environment

is not negatively impacted

to ensure that this initiative lasts for

a long long time

they have begun the institutionalization

of this sustainable development

practices through education

the members of the local community act

as tour guides and are well versed in

all of the species of natural resources

that are here and they pay it forward by

educating the public and ensuring that

the public also gains a true

appreciation for the natural resources

that are here and it is the cycle of

Education that ensures a continued

appreciation for the necessity of

sustainable tourism development

practices

on the part of the Department of Tourism

sustainable tourism has always been the

Bedrock of Tourism development in the

country as a matter of fact Republic act

number 9593 or the tourism Act of the

Philippines stipulates that the state

recognizes sustainable tourism

development as integral to National

social economic development efforts

the state also seeks to promote a

tourism industry that is ecologically

sustainable

responsible participative culturally

sensitive economically viable and

ethically and socially Equitable for

local communities

under the Marcos Administration we have

begun the work of ensuring that

sustainable tourism development

practices continue

we are now in the process of

reconfiguring the accreditation

standards for accommodation services to

ensure that we incorporate incentives

for sustainable tourism development

practices as well as green practices in

accommodation establishments

we are also launching the Philippine

tourism awards to ensure that we give

recognition to Enterprises that promote

sustainable tourism within various

sectors of the tourism industry

through this we will encourage even more

members of the tourism industry to have

an appreciation for the necessity of

sustaining tourism destinations for the

long term

we have also already launched the

Philippine experience a cultural

heritage and arts Caravan that will take

our tourists through our 16 regions and

give them an appreciation not only of

our tourist destinations but all the

other components of these destinations

that make the Filipino brand unique such

as our products

the work of our Artisans and makers our

food our fashion and the like

in this manner we are able to give not

only our tourists but also various

communities from all over the

Philippines an appreciation of the

importance of ensuring that we take care

of each and every single component of a

tourist destination

the Department of Tourism and

coordination with our Regional Offices

will be visiting our various provinces

cities and municipalities beginning next

year to be able to land the expertise

and assistance of the department in

conducting cultural mapping activities

Heritage mapping as well as

to conduct an inventory of all the

products food as well as other

components of tourist destinations in

certain areas to be able to equalize

tourism promotion and development

Nationwide

the Philippine experience was inspired

by the Suri Suri sobu here in the

province of Cebu which has allowed all

the local government units of the

province of Cebu to develop their

individual tourist destinations and to

maximize domestic tourism by introducing

a multi-dimensional experience to our

tourists that has also further developed

the culture of tourism in our various

local government units as the community

is heavily involved in the development

of the tourist destination as well as

the other components of the same

including the promotion and development

of its food and Gastronomy offerings its

products the work of our makers and

Artisans and the like as the lead

coordinator for environment and climate

change in the asean National tourism

organizations the Department of Tourism

continues to ensure that sustainability

is at the Forefront of Tourism

development as a matter of fact the

Philippine tourism manual on climate

change has been produced to the

initiative of the Department of Tourism

as a guide for how we are able to

address the challenges of climate change

while ensuring that tourism continues to

develop here in the Philippines

the contribution of the tourism industry

to our Philippine economy has been

immense

prior to the pandemic it contributed

more than 12.8 percent of our gross

domestic product or more than 2.5

trillion pesos to our economy

of course the pandemic has devastated

the industry

however we are now in the period of

recovery

having breached our initial Target of

1.7 million tourists we are now at over

2 million tourists that have come into

the Philippines and domestic tourism

flourishes across our country

visitor receipts are now at 100.7

billion pesos further demonstrating the

impact that tourism can have in the

economic Resurgence of the Philippines

with President Ferdinand Wong bong

Marcos Jr having identified tourism as a

major pillar for economic recovery the

Department of Tourism has identified

seven main objectives upon which it

shall anchor all its programs and plans

the Bedrock of which is sustainable

tourism

first the Improvement of Tourism

infrastructure and accessibility

second cohesive and comprehensive

digitalization and connectivity

third we plan to enhance the overall

tourist experience

fourth the equalization of Tourism

product development and promotion

fifth the diversification of our

portfolio through multi-dimensional

tourism

six the maximization of domestic tourism

and seventh the strengthening of Tourism

governance through collaboration with

local government units the national

government as well as private

stakeholders here and abroad

the next few years post pandemic will

focus on recovery programs and policies

in tourism that will not only promote

pandemic resilience but also advocate

for sustainable development

indeed instilling this culture of

Tourism would entail a paradigm shift

among all of us in the public and

private sectors alike

while tourism numbers do play a role in

measuring the success of any initiatives

of government towards their tourism

industry more important is an emphasis

on the importance of striking a balance

between business opportunities and our

social responsibility to take care of

the destinations and resources bestowed

upon us

that is our unique mandate in tourism

to both sell the destination as well as

to preserve it for the long term

to ensure that the beauty of our country

remains while people are still able to

enjoy a unique Philippine travel

experience

we would like our stakeholders to find

ways with us to make our natural

attractions even better than before

we invite our stakeholders to

collaborate with us to be able to ensure

the preservation of our natural

attractions while ensuring its full

development through institutional

changes to strengthen it for the long

term

we want our tourists

to enjoy their travel and make it more

meaningful by leaving a positive impact

on the destination and host communities

thus we encourage everyone present here

today to be our partners in this

endeavor

I have high hopes that this forum will

give all of us a better perspective on

the necessity of sustainable tourism not

only for the urgent need for us to

recover for the adverse impacts of the

pandemic but also for the long-term

resilience and success of the tourism

sector

our eventual goal is to make tourism a

powerful pillar for economic Resurgence

while championing the preservation and

enrichment of the environment for future

Generations

rest assured that we will continue our

mission to Herald the Philippines and

the Filipino brand to the world and to

ensure the continued sustainability of

our Islands

[Music]

thank you

[Music]

foreign

[Music]