THE PHILIPPINES intends to balance the needs of the business sector and the protection of the environment, as it encourages the practice of sustainable and responsible tourism.
In separate speeches made to fellow tourism ministers as well as Japan travel agents and local media at last week’s Tourism Expo Japan 2018, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said, “for us in the Department of Tourism (DOT), it is not numbers that matter the most, but how to make a balance between business opportunities and social responsibility…. We will be advocates for an ecosystem of responsible tourists and destinations, and we will be champions of sustainable tourism to create a dependable source of income for Filipinos.”
She noted that the Philippine tourism industry employed some 5.3 million Filipinos in 2017, accounting for 13.1 percent of total employment in the country. But, she said, “We must balance their interests with the equally important interests of the environment, the host community, and the sustainability of the industry. Perhaps we will not grow as fast as we can, but we will ensure that for future generations, those who walk on the beaches of Boracay, El Nido, and other natural attractions in the country, will enjoy the same pristine sands and clear waters that pioneer tourists in these places experienced.”
The DOT secretary was in Tokyo last September 20 to attend the 2nd Ministerial Round Table co-hosted by the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the Tourism Japan expo organizers.
Romulo Puyat pointed out that Boracay Island was a “test case” in the Philippine government’s sustainable tourism advocacy, closing it for six months for much needed rehabilitation and implementation of vital infrastructure and enforcement of environmental laws.
“We are currently working with the Boracay task force, the business sector and local communities in transforming the island into a model of local sustainable and responsible tourism. What we learn from this experience is not for Boracay alone, but is applicable to other island destinations as well,” she stressed.
After Romulo Puyat’s speech to Japan tourist organizations and media, the Philippines showed a short video featuring Boracay and its clean white beach, which ended with the words: “A Better Boracay Coming Soon.”
The DOT chief also praised Japan’s for its citizens recent behavior at the World Cup, picking up trash at their side of the stadium after their game with Colombia. “We want our people, and our tourists, to have the sense of duty to the environment that the Japanese have. The sight of Japanese fans cleaning up after themselves…is an inspiration to the entire world,” she said.
She likewise expressed gratitude to Japan for playing a part in the success of the Philippines’ tourism industry. In 2017, she said, 584,180 Japanese tourists came to the Philippines, an increase of 9.14 percent from 2016. This is the second trip of the DOT chief to Japan, emphasizing the importance of the market to the country, as it targets to achieve 12 million foreign tourists by the end of 2012.
Romulo Puyat informed her fellow tourism ministers that the country’s tourism industry has been booming, accounting for 12.2 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017, “a figure which exceeded the 10-percent share of GDP we targeted for 2022.”
Domestic tourists last year also grew 96.7 million, exceeding the 86.2 million target set for 2022. In 2017, foreign tourists jumped by 11.3 percent to 6.62 million.