WELLNESS IN ENVIRONMENT: Philippines hosted 5th World Ecotourism Conference in Cebu which brought together officials and other policymakers in island and coastal regions to network effectively and to find common solutions for the development of coastal regions and contribute to the sustainability of these areas. With the theme “Marine and Coastal Ecotourism: Oceans of Uncertainties, Waves of Opportunities,” the 5th World Ecotourism Conference discussed the impacts of ecotourism activities linked to the seas such as whale and shark watching, snorkeling, scuba diving, and recreational fishing. The conference also tackled the socio-economic aspects of the industry such as development of destinations, management of marine ecotourism spots, marketing, and the elimination of poverty through sustainability. Participated in by tourism and environment officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to reinforce the region’s common resolve to cooperate on ecotourism development in Southeast Asia, the annual World Ecotourism Conference was endorsed by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and co-organized by the DOT and Discoverymice of Malaysia. Representatives from the government, industry, civil society, and the academe from all over the world attended the conference. Part of the country’s National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) is to develop competitive and sustainable products and destinations which will provide economic opportunities and protect the environment. Conference participants were toured around the nearby tourism attractions including whale shark sites in Oslob, Cebu, and the Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan. In 2012, the Philippines was also host to the ASEAN Ecotourism Conference where the national ecotourism strategy was discussed, calling for sustainable management of destinations, education and awareness, participation of local communities, and development of tourism products. - Philippine tourism and the environment | Tempo - News in a Flash

Philippine tourism and the environment | Tempo - News in a Flash: "The Manila Bulletin, led by its Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. Emilio T. Yap, President and Publisher Atty. Hermogenes P. Pobre, Executive Vice President Dr. Emilio C. Yap III, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Cris J. Icban Jr., Business Editor Loreto D. Cabañes, Directors, Officers, and Employees congratulate the Department of Environment and Natural Resources headed by Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje and the Department of Tourism headed by Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr., in their efforts in conserving and developing the country’s destinations, management of marine ecotourism spots, and marketing for our Filipino people in our Republic of the Philippines. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY!"



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