The tourism sector is one of the hardest-hit industries by the Covid-19 pandemic, as it ground to a halt with the imposition of the nationwide quarantine in 2020. What could have been another promising year became a struggle to stay afloat for many tourism-related establishments. But for us at the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST), it was an opportunity to tap the virtual world in reaching out to learners locked down in their homes.
The school was prepping for its 10th founding anniversary in May last year, but, consequently, was compelled to navigate cyberspace to pursue thrusts on sustainable tourism during the pandemic.
We used the early months of the enhanced community quarantine to record YouTube video series, titled Changing Landscapes to provide practical pointers and laid out the groundwork for our online learning offerings.
The ISST is a Silang, Cavite-based academy that specializes in education and training.
When the quarantine was relaxed in the subsequent months, we proceeded with the conduct of its Sustainable Tourism Opportunities for Entrepreneurship webinar series for stakeholders sidelined by the crisis.
A collaboration with the Philippine Small and Medium Business Development Foundation Inc. (Philsmed) and Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport), the virtual educational programs explored the livelihood opportunities in farm tourism, urban gardening, with eminent local and foreign experts as resource persons.
We also conducted a Lifestyle Health and New Consciousness webinar with former health secretary Jaime Galvez Tan, Dr. Albert Jo and Liz Mehta of HM Design to address emerging issues and concerns in the new normal.
To support undertakings on food security, the ISST conducted an Edible Landscaping forum with the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) to provide a garden model for homes, commercial and other available vacant spaces as a source of healthy food source during the community quarantine and beyond.
The said initiative, along with urban gardening, will be replicated in key local government units in Metro Manila and suburbs to help provide stable food supply. First to implement the program is Parañaque led by Mayor Edwin Olivares, to be followed by Pasay City.
As part of its diversification, ISST launched its Food Travel series last July which put the spotlight on the rich culinary traditions and food resources of the different provinces. Pampanga, acknowledged as the country’s culinary capital because of its diverse gastronomic offerings and cultural heritage, is first to take center stage in the program.
A joint effort with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Provincial Government, the two-day event featured restaurant stalwarts who helped transform Pampanga into a haven for food tourism with its unique blend of cooking traditions and innovations.
Founded in 2010, the ISST is acclaimed by National Geographic Traveller Magazine global editor Costas Christ as the “first sustainable tourism school in the Asia-Pacific region educating a new generation of leaders.”
In pursuit of our vision, we opened in 2018 a field campus in collaboration the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in Silang, Cavite. The strategic partnership with this prestigious global institution brings synergy to our shared mission and advocacy.
As part of our belated 10th anniversary celebration, ISST will hold a series of events and trainings to sustain the momentum we have generated last year.
Among these are the Global Faith-Based Tourism Conference in line with the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines, and the 7th National Farm Tourism Conference in Bohol, and the adjunct 4th Lakbay Bukid Award which will recognize the industry’s leading personalities.
Fringe events include courses on event management certification, tour guiding/eco-guiding, effective customer service, mushroom growing, and bamboo production.
Concluding the year is the Dine For A Cause for the benefit of the Indigenous Literacy Program for the Mangyan Hanunuo Tribe in Oriental Mindoro.
We are also pleased to announce that the Philippines will host the International Ecotourism Travel Mart (IETM) at the IIRR which will gather global players and stakeholders. Set last year, the event will include new technologies and products which were developed as a response to the pandemic.
Despite the logistical and resource challenges, we are confident that more partners, both foreign and local, will step forward to collaborate with the ISST in the fulfillment of its vision.
We may continue to encounter rough sailing, but the ISST is committed in its pursuit of being Southeast Asia’s premier sustainable tourism school by 2025.
Author Mina T. Gabor was the founder and president of the Center for International Trade Exhibitions and Missions Inc. (CITEM) of the Dept. of Trade and Industry, and the Dept. of Tourism secretary from 1996 to 1998. She is the recipient of the Philippine Legion of Honor Award as reserved officer, Lt. Colonel, of the Philippine Army for her exemplary contributions for the development of tourism in the Philippines and her performance as Tourism secretary. She continues to work on her passion of promoting the Philippines through trade and tourism as the president of the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST), as founder and president of the Philippine Small and Medium Business Development Foundation Inc. (PHILSMED), and the president of the Automobile Association of the Philippines Travel Agency.