24 nations converge at 1st green travel mart

MANILA, Philippines — Roads are all set leading to Silang, Cavite where 24 nations and the visiting public will converge for the world’s first green travel mart and festival.

The International Ecotourism Travel Mart (IETM) is slated to be held from March 29 to April 2, 2023 at the lush Silang, Cavite grounds of the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST), which co-organizes this historic travel mart, exhibit, forum and festival with the Asian Ecotourism Network (AEN).

It is supported by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Airlines and the municipality of Silang.

Masaru Takayama, president of the AEN, announced that ecotourism players and advocates from Asian countries as well as the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Costa Rica have confirmed their participation for this multifaceted event with the theme “Embracing Authentic Ecotourism.”

The Asian nations are Indonesia, Japan, China, Cambodia, Malaysia, India, Hong Kong, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Korea, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Fiji and the Philippines.

Experts, ecotourism practitioners, advocates, participants and exhibitors are expected at the IETM for the great opportunity to learn and network across cultures, according to Takayama, IETM co-chair and AEN president.

AEN is the Asian initiative of the Global Ecotourism Network which is based in Costa Rica. It provides relevant opportunities for members to work together on a regional scale. It actively seeks out channels for growth opportunities with both small and large organizations within Asia and shares among members significant information and educational materials. The Philippines is an active AEN member.

Takayama also noted the timeliness of the holding of the first IETM a few months after the 20th anniversary of the first celebration of the International Year of Ecotourism set by the United Nations in 2002. He stated that “ecotourism is the star of sustainable tourism,” and that much has taken place to put forward Sustainable Development Goals through the spread of best practices in ecotourism.

“Forum participants benefit from the vital sharing of noted experts, practitioners, advocates, professionals, and planners, on the beginnings, the current situation and best practices, and the future of ecotourism,” said Mina Gabor, president of the ISST and an internationally acclaimed advocate for the practice of authentic ecotourism which conserves natural environment and uplifts lives of communities, including indigenous groups, around the sites.

AEN sees the IETM as a “celebration to make sure that beautiful nature is passed on to the next generations to enjoy.”

To register and for more information on IETM, log on to www.internationalecotourismtravelmart.com.