OVER 20 countries will be participating in the world’s first green travel trade show to be held in the Philippines next year.
In a news conference on Tuesday, former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor said some “400-500 delegates” from all over the world are expected to participate in the International Ecotourism Travel Mart (IETM), which will be held from March 29 to April 2, 2023, in Silang, Cavite.
The travel mart will feature the world’s buyers and sellers of ecotourism packages; exhibitors of ecotourism-related and sustainability-advancing products, services and destinations; as well as speakers and panelists in a two-day forum and certification course.
She told the BusinessMirror, the travel mart will “expose delegates to the experts in ecotourism; I think they’ll be able to learn about ecotourism in such a short time.” She added, travel the fair will also expose the green and sustainable products of the country.
“We [also] want to show [Filipino delegates] the best ecotourism sites of the other countries, or how the other countries are actually developing their sites. There will be a lot of presentations and especially in the tourism forum, they will show the best practices in ecotourism, how people are taking care of their areas, etc.,” said Gabor, who is chair and president of the Silang-based International School for Sustainable Tourism, which is co-presenting the event with Asian Ecotourism Network (AEN), along with the co-organizer, the Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB).
Gabor cited Palawan as a leader in ecotourism, in particular El Nido Resorts of the Ayala Group.
For her part, ACB Executive Director Dr. Mundita S. Lim said, the international travel mart “elevates tourism as a leader in promoting the balance between economic development and harnessing nature as a means to overcome current challenges.”
Citing challenges that Asean heritage parks faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, Lim noted there is a growing awareness that nature is part of the solution to public health and climate change-related problems, as people are excited to be back outdoors again.
There are 51 heritage sites in Asean member-economies, which are important in preserving a wide array of ecosystems in the region. Of these, Lim noted that 80 percent are engaged in ecotourism.
Local communities in many of these sites have seen a drastic decline in visitors during the pandemic. She cited the cases of communities around the Gunung Leusur National Park in North Sumatra, and the Way Kambas National Park in Lampung province, where elephants and orangutans are present.
“But these days, as the region is slowly recovering from the impact of the global health crisis, mass tourism is slowly being into more eco-friendly tourism ventures. We see opportunities for greater participation of local communities, empowerment of local cultures, and enhancing windows for sustainability and continuity,” said Lim.
Meanwhile, Masaru Takayama, IETM co-chair and AEN president, said via Zoom, “Experts, ecotourism practitioners, advocates, participants and exhibitors are expected at the IETM for the great opportunity to learn and network across cultures.”
AEN, which is the Asian initiative of the Global Ecotourism Network based in Costa Rica, provides relevant opportunities for members to work together on a regional scale. It actively seeks out channels for growth opportunities with both small and large organizations within Asia and shares among members significant information and educational materials. The Philippines is an active AEN member.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes