DOT unveils Ilocos Region tourism recovery plan

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat watches a live weaving demo during her inspection of the Bolinao Sungayan Grill River Restaurant on June 21. (DOT photo)

MANILA – Bicycle tours, motorbiking and other outdoor activities are part of the Department of Tourism's recovery plan to spur local tourism in the Ilocos Region, Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said Tuesday.

During her three-day visit to Pangasinan, Puyat said the shift in local tourism preferences, as shown in the DOT’s latest domestic travel survey, tourists are now looking to incorporate outdoor activities like hiking and biking in their leisure travel.

In response to the changing traveler preferences, the DOT has its eyes on developing new biking and motorbiking trails in Region 1 such as the Find the One Bike Tour and Motorismo, with trails coursing through the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.

“Region 1 holds so much potential to appeal to tourists under the new normal, given its abundance in nature sites. That is why we are very excited to launch the tourism recovery plan that will introduce new and exciting activities that will provide additional opportunities for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region. I encourage our kababayans to please travel and support local while observing the necessary health and safety protocols," Puyat said.

The department's regional office has accredited 61 Level 1 Surf Instructors through the Academy of Surf Instructors Philippines (ASI) which will uplift the standards of surfing lessons in the region’s popular surf spots.

Other tourism recovery initiatives of the DOT in Region 1 include the Marian Pilgrimage Tour; specialized training for Inabel textile weavers in Ilocos Sur; the Eastern, Western and Central Pangasinan Tourism Circuit; Bird Watching Tourism Circuit in Ilocos Norte; and the development of eco/nature trails in La Union.

Puyat also highlighted the Tara Na! app, a travel request and contact tracing system funded by the Tourism Promotions Board.

Puyat said this is a collaborative effort between the LGUs and the DOT to unify the region's border controls and to serve as a green lane for tourists coming into the region.

She also unveiled plans to restore and transform the historical Casa Real in Pangasinan -- into the province’s first museum that will enable both locals and tourists to appreciate its rich history.

To fund the restoration of Casa Real, Puyat said the DOT, through the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, an attached agency of the DOT, has provided PHP50 million for the project.

Cash aid

Puyat also led a ceremonial awarding of certificates to beneficiaries of the cash assistance program of the DOT and Department of Labor and Employment in Region 1.

As of June 18, the DOT regional office successfully endorsed 2,652 cash aid applications of tourism enterprises from Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan.

"The DOT is pleased to announce that a total of 51,083 workers have so far been approved by DOLE Region 1 for a total of PHP255 million in cash assistance," Puyat said.

She added that the bulk of the cash aid allotment for Region 1 went to Pangasinan, with total assistance of PHP187.4 million benefitting 37,478 individuals. (PR)

 

Adopting sustainable tourism for the environment

Costales Nature Farm [Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism]

MANILA – In celebration of World Environment Day 2021 on June 5, the Department of Tourism (DOT) urged hotels and resorts to become DOT-accredited to receive assistance in its rapid adoption of sustainable practices.

"Reviving local economy and creating livelihood is DOT's current priority. However, the pandemic has allowed us to be more persistent in our goal to instill accountability in businesses to become more sustainable," Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said in a press statement released Friday night.

Puyat explained that the perks of being accredited equate to getting assistance from the DOT in many aspects of running a tourism enterprise, but more specifically, access to technical tools and experts that can help an establishment make the transition to going green.

“(The) DOT will continue to focus on marketing sustainability to the public, educating them on how to be sustainable tourists while also encouraging tourists to support accredited businesses that have exemplary green practices,” she said.

 Setting the foundation

Community-based tourism program at The Sabang Mangrove River, Puerto Princesa, Palawan spearheaded by The Sabang Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour Guide Association Inc.  (Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism]Caption

The Tourism Act of 2009, the Philippines’ first and only tourism law, has long served as the top tourism body’s bible in coming up with programs that would benefit the industry.

A recent example is DOT’s 2019 Save Our Spots (SOS) campaign, which aimed to inspire the public, businesses, and communities to have a long-term view on tourism.

Another is the department’s Joint Memorandum Circular on the Rules and Regulations Governing the Conduct of Marine Wildlife Tourism Interaction in the Philippines, together with the departments of environment, agriculture, and interior.

“The DOT has been working on integrating sustainable tourism principles in its projects and policies. We have been teaching our tourists and tourism operators to do the small things we can do to preserve our tourism destinations,” Puyat said.

 The DOT also conducts community-based training for the tourism workforce, including boatmen, masseuses, and souvenir vendors, to provide them with technical skills and knowledge that will help them do their jobs better.

Food waste management seminars are also offered to accommodation and restaurant owners and culinary training that aim to reintroduce heritage or local dishes to tourists.

Adopting green practices

The number one asset of tourism is the country’s natural resources, and tourism establishments have a role in conserving these.

The DOT has revised the accreditation standards for hotels and resorts to incorporate environmental indicators in the star rating system of these types of accommodation establishments, aiming to encourage business owners to be more environment-friendly in their day-to-day operations.

 

Through technical assistance from the European Union-GRAT, the DOT developed the ANAHAW Philippine Sustainable Tourism Certification awards in 2018 for the same reason, making it the local equivalent of the Asean Green Hotel Awards.

ANAHAW looks into how accommodation establishments manage and reduce their waste, energy consumption, and water consumption.

Corporate social responsibility is also a factor, with establishments that employ locals and purchase local goods fairing higher in the rating system.

The ANAHAW certification will put an enterprise with a competitive advantage because the consciousness of travelers is already very high.

“The ANAHAW certification is one of our ways to ensure we provide excellent service for our tourists without compromising our natural resources and the community. Our tourists are more likely to support tourism operators that care for the environment,” Puyat said.

Examples of establishments that have received the ANAHAW certification are Crimson Hotel and Spa Mactan in Cebu, Nurture Wellness Village in Tagaytay, Club Balai Isabel in Batangas, and Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort in Palawan.

The Spa at Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu [Photos courtesy of Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa]

Executing the right campaigns and having compliant establishments can only work if tourists themselves recognize their role in the path to sustainable tourism, she said, noting that the main goal of sustainable tourism is for future generations to experience and enjoy the same, if not better, resources present today.

For more information on how to be a responsible traveler, visit www.philippines.travel/saveourspots or download the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel or the Google Playstore. (PR)