MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will be in Legazpi City today to grace a United Nations conference on climate change and tourism as well as inaugurate new buildings in Bicol University.
He will be the guest speaker at the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - ASEAN International Conference on Tourism and Climate Change to be held at the Oriental Hotel.
Aquino, along with key officials and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, will be welcomed by Albay Gov. Joey Salceda.
The local government of Albay is hosting the event to be attended by officials of the UNWTO, led by its secretary-general Taleb Rifai, and the heads of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) National Tourism Organization.
The conference aims to analyze the impact of climate change on tourism, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, and to strengthen the sector’s ability to address the threats of climate change.
The conference will address relevant issues, from the competitiveness and sustainability perspectives, identification of specific challenges and vulnerabilities, to the examples of relevant actions.
There will also be sub-topics on innovation and technology, institutional and capacity building, consumer behavior and policy reforms.
A selection of successful implementation initiatives of low carbon tourism development, including climate change mitigation policies, installation of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies will be presented during the conference.
The conference will also provide the opportunity to share with the international community the ministerial and expert levels of knowledge and lessons learned in tourism and climate change from other countries.
Albay wows UNWTO execs
Rifai, who arrived in Legazpi City on Saturday, said he discovered a tourism gem in Albay, referring to the perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano.
Rifai and the other officials of UNWTO took an aerial view of the volcano with Misibis Bay resort owner Elizaldy Co.
He said Albay is a world-class tourist destination. – With Celso Amo, Cet Dematera