The Department of Tourism (DOT) joins hands with the International School for Sustainable Tourism (ISST) in organizing the International Ecotourism Travel Mart (IETM) 2023.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco sat down with former DOT Secretary and now ISST chair Dr. Mina T. Gabor to finalize the preparation for the forum set on March 29 to April 2, 2023, at the Yen Center for International Institute of Rural Reconstruction in Silang, Cavite.
The event is expected to bring together the world’s national and regional ecotourism associations and networks, destinations, indigenous peoples, global operators, professionals, and academicians in an aim to provide advocacy and thought leadership and encourage innovation in ecotourism.
“It is a very great opportunity to have this exchange to know how the Department of Tourism can help and assist in these advocacies that you have long lobbied for many, many years,” Frasco said to Gabor.
The tourism chief lauded the ISST for leading the movement for a sustainable Philippines.
“To see efforts such as this that aim to bring light to what the Philippines is doing to actualize its sustainable tourism theories is very important,” the tourism head said.
Recalling her time as Municipal Mayor that led Liloan, Cebu, through its recovery from Supertyphoon Odette, Frasco said, “Having come from the grassroots myself, I have seen how important the application of these theories is, critical and urgent considering all of the negative impact of climate change,” Frasco emphasized.
“The IETM 2023 is envisioned to “position the Philippines as a green destination.”
According to Gabor, with 24 countries already confirmed and 450 expected number of delegates, the IETM 2023 is envisioned to “position the Philippines as a green destination.”
The IETM has three components: the travel mart exhibition for travel and tour operators, a two-day ecotourism forum, and a marketplace where local ecotourism enterprises can showcase their best products.
The IETM has three components: the travel mart exhibition for travel and tour operators, a two-day ecotourism forum, and a marketplace where local ecotourism enterprises can showcase their best products.
With the attendance of many ecotourism stakeholders, IETM 2023 hopes to be a venue where the newly-formulated National Ecotourism Strategies and Action Plan (NESAP) 2023-2028, a joint national policy crafted by the DOT and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as a guide for the development and regulation of ecotourism activities in the country, can be presented.
Meanwhile, the Asian Ecotourism Network (AEN), a regional initiative of the Global Ecotourism Network (GEN), endorsed the IETM 2023, citing that it reflects their common mission to connect and network for sustainability.
Earlier, the National Ecotourism Steering Committee (NESC), the national inter-agency committee that formulates and recommends policies on ecotourism, approved the drafting of the resolution recommending the IETM 2023 as an important event for the ecotourism sector.
Attending the meeting are DOT OIC-Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso, OIC Assistant Secretary Warner Andrada, and Director Paulo Tugbang. The ISST is represented by Mike Guiguio, an urban planning specialist, and members of its board.
