Cebu to host 5th World Eco Tourism Conference Phl expects attendance of 155 member countries

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippines, particularly Cebu will be on the world's spotlight in the tourism sector, as it will host the 5th World Eco Tourism Conference in the first week of November this year.

This is the first time that the Philippines will be hosting such event. Last year, the conference was held in Korea.

In a press conference held yesterday at the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, Lee Choon Loong, regional vice president, Asia Pacific, UN-WTO (United Nation-World Tourism Organization) affiliates board announced that the organizer decided to hold the global conference in Cebu, considering the province's strength in tourism, as well as its proximity to Bohol, which is the number one eco-tourism destination in the Philippines.

Lee, who is the president and chief executive officer of the Discovery MICE, an affiliate member of World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which will organize the conference said that this year's theme which will focus on "marine Economic Tourism" is also fitting for Cebu because of the rich marine resources on the island-province.

The conference will be attended by representatives from 155 member countries, and the over 400 affiliates, Lee said.

Lee mentioned the success story of Bohol, as a world-class eco-tourism destination that could be used as a benchmark for other member countries.

At present, Costa Rica is the number one eco-tourism destination in the world, because of its organized and systematic policies to promote eco-tourism heavily involving the community to participate reaping the opportunities of tourism.

In the Philippines, Department  of Tourism (DOT) assistant secretary for tourism development planning, Rolando Canizal said the department has identified four top eco-tourism destination these are; Bohol, Palawan, Cagayan Valley and Mt. Apo in Davao.

"The eco-tourism is now a very important buzz-word in tourism sector. The Philippines has huge and beautiful natural resources, and it would be very timely for the country to hold this event," Lee added.

The meeting will be concluded with the submission of a "Cebu Declaration on Eco Tourism," that will be submitted to the UNWTO body, as well as the Regional Commission for East Asia and the Pacific, which will have its conference next year in the Philippines.

The Cebu Declaration on Eco Tourism will also be endorsed by regional ministers of tourism and encourage certain action in relation for the declaration.

Aside from the representatives of the UNWTO member countries, the conference also hopes to attract delegates from other sectors like academe, and other industries.

The Philippines started to push the development of the eco-tourism with different monetary and program supports are initiated by   Government agencies, such as DOT, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and others.

The concept of eco-tourism based on the UNWTO agenda is heavily focused on involving the community in the development of tourism, promoting eco-tourism more than a product but more on supporting the local economy and generate income and open up job opportunities. /JOB (FREEMAN)