Tourism experts push policies to harness tourism potentials

CEBU - Tourism Ministers, members of parliament and local authorities from member countries of the United Nations World Trade Organization want national parliamentarians and local councils to come up with policies and agenda for harnessing the potentials of tourism to protect the environment, reduce poverty, enhance media collaboration, and mobilize strong republic and private sector partnership.

Tourism Undersecretary Phineas Alburo, in yesterday’s closing ceremony of the four-day 6th International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities held at the Shangri-La Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City, said the deliberations during the forum were very productive because they have tackled and exchanged views both on the status of the country’s tourism industry as well as the global agenda for tourism in the coming years.

According Alburo, the resolution emanating from the interventions made by the different members of parliament from various member states of the United Nation World Tourism Organization aims to foster cooperation among nations.

He said the intervention is not only for the development of tourism industry despite global crisis, but also for the protection of environment, reduce poverty, draw support from media and develop cooperation among private and public sectors.

Alburo said the discussions would not have been possible without the well-organized handling by the panel of experts. He said different speakers and moderators who were experts in their field shared their talents and insights on the various issues that confront the tourism industry today.

The Department of Tourism expressed also expressed gratitude to the UNWTO led by Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli and Mr. XU JING for giving the Philippines the opportunity to host the said big event.

“The forum in Cebu has given them the chance to showcase once the capacity of other destinations of the Philippines to host an event of this magnitude and importance,” Alburo said.

Alburo also acknowledged Bohol first district Rep. Edgar Chatto for organizing the forum and making it a big event.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who spoke before the delegates last Wednesday said that tourism is a major creator of jobs and livelihood and could be one of the ways in fighting poverty in the country.

Throughout Asia, Arroyo said they have models of strategies that have successfully integrated poverty alleviation with the growth of tourism.

Arroyo further said that global economic realities threaten the fight to reduce poverty worldwide.

But she said “we must stay hopeful and let us keep our faith in tourism as a powerful instrument to alleviate poverty.” — Jose P. Sollano/WAB (THE FREEMAN)