DOT-6 engages LGUs on sustainable tourism

ILOILO CITY — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is embarking on a series of eco-tourism seminar workshop for tourism officers and local government unit (LGU) officials in Western Visayas as it impressed upon them the concept of sustainable tourism while promoting this region as an eco-tourism destination.

Atty. Helen Catalbas, DOT-6 regional director, said that they intend to bring the training to Guimaras after the completion of the workshop/training in Antique this month.

“These two provinces should receive more attention now that the four other (provinces) are very fast developing in terms of tourism. We want these two provinces to catch up but with more focus on their environmental conservation and preservation of their natural heritage,” Catalbas said.

“We also want to project Western Visayas as an eco-tourism destination and we want to promote sustainable tourism in this part of the country,” she added.

Catalbas expressed optimism that the participants will “identify primary sites that they intend to develop for eco-tourism purposes in cooperation with DOT and other national government agencies and other private corporations.”

She explained that they would like to involve private businesses through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to promote eco-tourism in the different provinces of Western Visayas.

“Antique is the first in the series of provincial consultation and workshop because it is still covered by forest and its rivers and beach are still very clean. Antique is not yet heavily populated both by residents and by tourists/visitors. I think it’s good to introduce sustainable tourism in an area while it is still starting,” she added.

Following the culmination of the Antique seminar, DOT-6 is looking forward to see for its officials do advocacy work and propose projects in consultation with their villages and provincial government to increase the awareness of the public on responsible and sustainable tourism.

They are expected to put in place mechanisms to protect environment amid the influx of tourists.

“They are very receptive and determined to hold on to their natural resources even as they try to attract more tourists who will also respect the natural heritage of the place,” Catalbas said of the Antique participants.