The province of Dinagat Islands has launched a new brand of tourism that is grounded on community conservation.
“Under the new direction, tourism on the island will not only promote its stunning beaches and picturesque tourist spots but also focus on the involvement of communities in conserving nature,” Jeff Crisostomo, Dinagat Islands provincial information officer, said.
“Involving the communities in tourism means people in localities enforce the rules, policies, and guidelines in nature conservation,” Crisostomo stressed, adding that communities would also be involved in other tourism-related business opportunities such as food and transportation services.
“Education of the members of the communities will also be part of our new direction where they will learn on the important relationship between community and nature.”
“Education of the members of the communities will also be part of our new direction where they will learn on the important relationship between community and nature. They need to know how important nature is in relationship to the existence of communities here in Dinagat Island,” he added.
The island’s new tourism branding, Crisostomo said, seeks to harmonize the “relationship between the communities and the environment.”
During the launching, which coincided with the World Tourism Day, Governor Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao led the signing of a document titled “A Commitment to Promote and Uphold Community Conservation Tourism in the Province of Dinagat Islands.
Bag-ao was joined by Regional Executive Director Hadja Didaw Piang-Brahim of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-13), Mary Jean Camarin of the Department of Tourism (DOT-13), and Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat, Jr. of the Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13).
In her message, the lady governor said the essence of conservation tourism is the creation of communities that are conscious of their relationship with the natural surroundings.
“Resilient, self-reliant, and healthy communities of active and empowered citizens who work and share equitably the fruits of their labor and the natural wealth of the islands, cognizant and respectful of their carrying capacity in a vibrant local economy, living in peace and solidarity with one another,” she said.
Bag-ao said Dinagat Islands residents should promote the province’s tourist attractions mainly “not to seek profit but because of love and pride of the home that the people of Dinagat Islands live, reside, take shelter and thrive.”
“Community conservation tourism is our future. And this future, in the beautiful island ecosystem we call home — in our beloved Dinagat Islands, is now,” she said.
Meanwhile, Crisostomo said tourism in the Dinagat Islands is being negatively affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
“There are restrictions to protect us from the virus of COVID-19. This pandemic has affected tourist arrivals in our province,” he said.
As an alternative, Crisostomo said the provincial government will encourage the people of Dinagat Islands to visit places and spots in the area they have not yet visited.
“Internal tourism has already attracted many residents in the province to visit other sites during the pandemic.”
Internal tourism, he added, has already attracted many residents in the province to visit other sites during the pandemic.
Growth in tourist arrivals was noted in the province during the first three quarters of 2019, with a rate of 47.41 percent compared to the same period in 2018, data from DOT-13 said.
During the period, tourist arrivals on the island were recorded at 76,389 compared to 51,822 arrivals in the first three quarters in 2018.
Domestic tourists topped the count during the period with 75,596 and foreign tourists with 793 arrivals.
DOT-13 also noted the consistent growth in tourist arrivals in the islands from 2017 to 2019.