MARCOS: GO GREEN IN TRANSFORMING TOURISM SECTOR
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Friday underscored the need to adopt sustainability in the tourism sector as he urged to ''go green'' in the transformation of tourism products and services.
''We need to adopt sustainability in our society and economy, and certainly in the sector of tourism. We must go green in the transformation of our tourism products and services as a solution to address climate change, resource preservation, and long-term industry sustainability,'' Marcos said during the opening ceremony of the 36th joint meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UN Tourism Commission for South Asia.
''As a matter of fact, I would take that even a step further and if we are to talk about tourism, I am of the belief that the greener you are, the better the tourism experience will be,'' he added.
Marcos said the government continues to work with the private sector to pursue reforms that will make tourists “visit, stay, spend, and return” to the Philippines.
''These include measures such as easing visa access, enhancing water sanitation and healthcare facilities in tourist destinations, [and] improving connectivity hubs such as airports,'' he said.
''By adopting these practices, we create a tourism industry that not only creates responsible visitors but also uplifts the lives of those who are part of that activity,'' Marcos added.
The President mentioned that in 2023, the Philippines welcomed 5.45 million international tourists into the country, exceeding the target of 4.8 million for the year.
He also said that from January to March of this year, international tourist arrivals in the Philippines have reached 2.9 million.
''These highlight the robust recovery and continued appeal of our country as a top travel destination. But going beyond monetary values and numbers, these figures also mean millions of lives being changed for the better,'' Marcos said.
Meanwhile, Marcos also visited the province of Bohol where he distributed presidential assistance to farmers and fisherfolks.
He acknowledged the province's well-known tourist industry.
''Kilala ang inyong probinsya sa inyong white-sand beaches, mga diving site, ang Chocolate Hills, ang mga tarsier, 'yung asin tibuok na naka-delihensya pa ako ng asin na tibuok doon sa gumagawa at mapapasarap ang kain namin mamayang lunch, pati na sa kalamay na talaga namang napakasarap [kung] kaya’t paborito itong gawing pasalubong ng lahat ng pumapasyal sa inyo,'' he said.
(Your province is popular for its white-sand beaches, diving sites, the Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers, the asin tibuok wherein I was able to get from its local producer; therefore we will have a good lunch later. You also have sweet delicacies that are often used as pasalubongs for those who visit your place.)
Marcos also lauded the farming and fishing sector in the province as he vowed to help these sectors to improve.
Marcos said more than 14,000 farmers and fishermen have been affected by the El Niño phenomenon in the last months. — AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
This article Marcos: Go green in transforming tourism sector was originally published in GMA News Online.
2024-06-28T05:02:44Z dg43tfdfdgfd