WORLD tourism is expected to boost the global economy with an estimated 1.8 billion global travelers by 2030. But the sector’s “business as usual” approach is feared by experts to bring catastropic impact on the world’s natural resources.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) jointly issued the warning a week ago to remind tourism stakeholders to implement green measures, such as resource efficiency, conservation and new technologies, to promote sustainable tourism.
The world tourism sector is expected to give huge contribution to the global gross domestic product at 9 percent and provide one in 11 jobs worldwide, the UNWTO said.
“As tourism continues to grow, so, too, will the pressures on the environment and wildlife. Without proper management and protection, as well as investments in greening the sector, ecosystems and thousands of magnificent species will suffer,” UN Undersecretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said.
The Philippines is heeding the UN’s call to promote ecotourism across island destinations to protect its rich natural resources, cultural and historical heritage.
The Department of Tourism is implementing an accreditation system that promotes ecotourism to protect the country’s fragile ecosystem, and build resilience amid frequent natural calamities that affect local tourism. As defined by the DOT, ecotourism is a form of sustainable tourism within a natural and/or cultural heritage area.
It requires community participation, protection and management of natural resources. It also aims to preserve and highlight in tourism events the culture and indigenous knowledge and practices, as well as promote environmental education and ethics, for the enrichment of host community and satisfaction of visitors. Bohol, an island destination in the Visayas, is host to many hotels and resorts that have turned huge portions of properties into lush vegetable gardens and started small farms to sustain the food requirements of their businesses.
These hotels believe that fresh garden salads, vegetables and dairy products are some of the food staples in the breakfast buffet that should never run out.
These business establishments now source dairy products from nearby small farms, such as prime cheese and milk, as well as cold cuts, such as chorizo and longanisa.
The conscious move of these hotels and resorts helps boost jobs and livelihood of small communities.
The province is also a top source of tablea, or native cocoa, that is served as a staple hot chocolate drink or ingredient for desserts in various resorts and hotels there.
The provincial government is reinforcing green tourism in Bohol amid the threats of climate change and calamities that affect the tourism sector. “We want to develop Bohol as the tourism superpower and a top holiday destination in the Philippines,” Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto said.
Next month Chatto will lead the launch of “Visit Bohol 2015” tourism campaign to boost the province’s rich tourist destinations, such as the pristine white-sand beaches and also rivers, waterfalls, marine sanctuaries, mangroves and diving sites.
The event will also highlight the need to promote ecotourism in Bohol to protect its rich natural resources, as well as its cultural and historical heritage. Chatto said Bohol is home to Asia’s largest mangrove called Banacon Island, located north of the municipality of Getafe.
It has a total of 425 hectares, with only 15-hectare dry land and the rest are extensive mangrove plantation.
He relies on the strong partnership between the local government and the private tourism stakeholders in promoting ecotourism in Bohol.
Hotel and resort owner Nikki Cauton, who runs two hotels in Bohol and two other resorts in Dumaguete and Coron in Palawan, believes that the industry, is indeed, an intensive consumer of natural resources.
He said private stakeholders in the tourism industry should engage in ecotourism as part of the business plan to ensure the stability of their supplies for food and amenities.
Cauton said some of the environmental initiatives have been integrated in the tourism activities of his chain of hotels, including Amorita, which is strategically wrapped between a lush green forest and pristine blue water.
He said some of the hotel guests join employees in activities like coastal cleanups and mangrove planting. Authentic Boholano heritage dishes are also highlighted in his chains of hotels and resorts using local ingredients, like ginger, lemongrass and coconut.
The green-tourism initiative also brings a lot of excitement to guests, who learn they are enjoying locally grown food and drinks, including the house specialty hot chocolate made from tablea that is made by 63-year-old Inang Majeng, a Boholanon.
“Being in the hospitality industry, we recognize that we cannot simply meet travelers’ commercial needs. Our business goals are inevitably linked to the natural surroundings and our host communities, and we must respond by working to make a positive impact in these areas,” Cauton said.
Bohol is home to many of the world’s wonders, such as the tarsier—an endemic primate that can only be found in the province.
It is also famous for the Chocolate Hills, heritage houses and 15th- century Spanish churches. Many of these structures are now either being rehabilitated and restored following a devastating earthquake in October 2013.
While the provincial government promotes new destinations, such as the mangroves in Banacon, white and powdery sands in Anda and Lamanok’s mystical island, there is now a concerted effort from the local government and private hotel and resort owners to promote ecotourism.
The decision to turn to green tourism is now an option to tourism industry players. It is not just a hype to lure tourists but, indeed, a business survival as the sector is the first to feel the brunt of natural calamities related to climate change.