Story & photos by Ma. Stella F.

Arnaldo / Special to the BusinessMirror

THE “food basket” of Mindanao expects to see some 5.4 million tourists this year, as
the Department of Tourism (DOT) pushes the promotion of the region’s various
tourism destinations.

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Freshly caught tuna sliced sashimi style was on display at Friday’s launch of the Treasures of
Soccsksargen.
In an interview with the BusinessMirror, DOT Director for Region 12 (Soccsksargen
or SOX) Maria Rica Bueno said the bulk of the tourists in the region are day tourists
who come from the neighboring provinces and regions. “We have a very good road
network, so tourists can go on road trips to visit one province to another. We are
privileged to be a beneficiary of the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program [TRIP],
such that 17 roads [that connect to tourism destinations] have been constructed in the
previous years.”

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This has led to a 31-percent increase in visitor arrivals in the SOX region to 4.9
million in 2017, she noted. From 2018 to 2022, about 32 roads will be constructed in
the region; and for 2019, specifically, the DOT will be “recommending another set of
roads” for construction by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
To promote the region and its tourism destinations and products, the DOT is hosting
the “Treasures of SOX” until Sunday, May 6, at the Glorietta Activity Center. “It is an
annual travel and trade expo for the region’s tourism and trade sellers now on its third
edition. It’s a convergence program of the DOT regional office, together with other
government agencies like the departments of Trade and Industry, Environment and
Natural Resources, Agriculture (DA), and of Labor and Employment, promoting
various tourism experiences in SOX, as well as the region’s agricultural and trade
products,” she said.

The nine local government units of SOX are also participating in showcasing their
tourism sites and cultural attractions, “and along with the partner-agencies, we will
have learning sessions.”

Bueno underscored the strength of SOX is “in agriculture and the environment. It’s
unadulterated tourism because it’s pure, the culture is very authentic; there are tribes
or indigenous peoples like the T’boli, the B’laan and the Maguindanaoan, while
Christian and Muslims and coexist harmoniously.  We have fertile lands, which give
us abundant and productive agricultural produce, so they are the food basket of the
country. We have fresh organic vegetables and fruits, seafood and livestock.” This is
why, she said, the DOT will be “developing food and gastronomy tourism” in the
region.

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The DOT regional director added she has been talking to the DA representative in the
region, as “we will be advocating agricultural tourism; we want to keep our lands. It’s
timely as the DA’s focus is food security.”

She noted that the region is where the top coffee producers in the country are located,
i.e. Sultan Kudarat, and the largest pineapple plantation in the world, DOLE
Philippines.

One of the must-visit tourist destinations in SOX also is the Tupi Fruit Park along the
national highway in South Cotabato, where all types of fruits are sold at bargain
prices, she said.
Due to the nature of its cultural attractions and tourism destinations, SOX is quite ripe
for tourists from Australia and Europe, said Bueno. But she admitted, “First we have
to overcome the perception of Mindanao [as a dangerous place to visit]. But we
always underscore that we won’t be promoting for you to come here if we know your
lives are in danger.”

She added that martial law has been a positive factor to promoting peace and security
in the region, such that it is safe for tourists to travel there. Of the 4.9 million tourists
in SOX last year, some 19,000 were foreign tourists. “So we will be promoting first to
the Asean,” she said.

There are two gateways to the SOX region, one via General Santos City and the other
in Cotabato City, where daily flights by a number of carriers are available. “In the
future, we hope to have international flights even just in the region, as SOX is a
participant in the Mindanao air connectivity program. This will serve the BIMP-Eaga
region.”

To be a tourist in the Philippines is marketed as an exciting

experience, where one is constantly surrounded by beach parties
and town fiestas amid its 7,107 islands — so much so that the
Department of Tourism’s tagline is known as “It’s More Fun In
The Philippines”. But beyond the scenery, sunbathing, and the
suckling pigs lies the country’s ecotourism sector — an emerging
form of travel other major destinations such as Costa Rica,
Norway, and New Zealand have become known for.
Yet in recent news, the images seem to be disappointing, as
Boracay, a popular beach destination, had been closed down by
the government for six months. This comes as an effort to
rehabilitate its deteriorating environment, scarred by the
violations of hotels, nightclubs, and other business establishments
that dot the island. In turn, one can hope to see a breakthrough as
the government reshapes the island’s ecological and economic
practices, going beyond its reputation as a tourism cash cow into a
true beach paradise.

Despite this, the Philippines seems naturally poised to be a major

ecotourism haven: being one of the world’s 18 mega bio-diverse
countries (according to the Convention on Biological Diversity),
possessing between 70–80% of the world’s plant and animal
species, 15.8 million hectares of tropical forests, and a geography
that comprises everything from perfectly shaped volcanoes to
emerald-green islands. Moreover, new species are also being
discovered in the country every year.

Nationally, there have been measures to transform tourism’s

ecological footprint. For instance, the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) has launched an ecotourism
tracking tool (ETT) — a 62-question assessment that aims to
promote and monitor sustainability in resorts, natural parks,
villages, and other tourism sites across the country.

Other parts of the Philippines have already established themselves

as emerging hubs for ecotourism as well, implementing
commendable policies that change the way Filipinos see tourism.
From Batanes, to Palawan, and beyond, take a look at how the
Philippines is practicing ecotourism today.
La Mesa Eco Park: Nature Within Urban Reach
With these ecotourism practices at hand, can the industry truly
take off in the Philippines? Slowly but surely, it can be a
transformative source of income, given that its 7,107 islands have
a lot to offer, along with a culture that has proven to be service-
oriented. In time, it can certainly be another crucial engine to
economic growth — should the government, businesses, and
citizens continue to cooperate on a larger scale.

Ecotourism is a form of responsible tourism which strives to achieve certain goals: Traveling to
natural parks and landmarks, minimizing damages caused by conventional tourism, providing
financial benefits to local businesses and building environmental awareness. Empowering local
communities and their culture, and supporting civil rights are also a big part of responsible
travelling.

Our agency puts an emphasis on helping you take part in the movement towards a greener, better
Philippines. We want to promote eco-tourism, even if it means a smaller profit for us. We
strongly believe that preserving this country’s natural assets and local communities is extremely
important to the well-being of the Philippines and its tourism. With our help, you can plan an
entire eco-tourism vacation and make your stay in the country a more meaningful one.

The best eco-tours in the Philippines

In this section we gathered the best selection of our Eco-

tours. The Philippines is full with natural sites – islands,
waterfalls, mountains, jungles, lagoons and such, so it’s a
great destination for an escape in nature. Moreover, the
Filipinos are composed of 175 ethno-linguistic groups,
each with unique customs and traditions. So,
any destination you’ll choose to visit will have eco-tours.
You can review all of our tours, and choose the ones
available in your chosen locations.

You can book any of this tours as standalones based on

your itinerary. However, if you want to have a greener vacation you can also book any package
and we’ll see that the attractions and accommodation will be as eco-friendly as possible. You can
also contact us and ask to create a package with ecotourism as its main focus.

The importance of ecotourism

Tourism is very important to the Philippines, as it is a key factor of the country’s economy.
Traditional tourism however only contributes to some extent and can even create some issues,
like destruction of the environment and pushing the local culture out of touristy places. Although
green tourism cannot solve these issues completely, it can establish a healthy balance between
economic prosperity and the problems mentioned.

The face of tourism is rapidly changing due to

direct guidance from the DOT (the Philippines
Department of Tourism), which made ecotourism
a priority a few years ago. DOT created a well-
established strategy to introduce, incorporate and
enforce ecotourism in many destinations in the
Philippines, as the government realized two main
things:

The natural attractions of the Philippines are

valuable assets, and if they are destroyed it will
require an immense amount of money, time and
manpower to restore. The government created
and enforces regulations regarding nature reserves, environment, recycling and such, while
demanding that a portion of the profits made of these places will be allocated to their
maintenance. Nowadays, there’s an apparent change in cleanliness and accessibility of natural
attractions in the Philippines.

Secondly, although tourism creates jobs, the poorer segments of society don’t benefit from this
prosperity as much. The division of wealth and social injustice are already a serious problem in
the Philippines. Although traditional tourism does benefit the country and its people, usually it’s
the wealthier people (like big hotels owners, airlines, etc.) who get the bigger cut, while the poor
are being pushed aside (to make space for the tourists and the establishments). Green tourism
channels profits to the lower end of the chain directly, thus minimizing the gap, while being
mindful of the local culture.

Eco-friendly destinations in the Philippines

Many destinations in the Philippines are getting more eco-friendly with the guidance of the
DOT. You’ll find a growing number of destinations which are clean, environmental minded,
offer great tours in nature and green amenities. Also, there are many places where the indigenous
culture is still prevalent, giving you a unique peep into the depth of Filipino culture.

Batanes is considered one of the top destinations

for eco-tourists. This province is relatively
inaccessible from the mainland, so the distinct
local culture has remained untouched. Palawan is
another great example as the whole island is
considered a green island. In both places you will
notice that the locals advocate green tours and
accommodation, as the environment means a great
deal to them.

Many other destinations in the Philippines also

take the Eco task with pride and diligence. Some
islands like Camiguin province declared
themselves as non-smoking in public. The town
members keep the beaches as well as the town’s
streets clean, and some cities banned plastic bags
for secondary packing.

Environmental awareness seems to be a growing

trend everywhere in the country, but some places
are still better for ecotourism than the others. For
a better insight read our catalog of destinations.
Many places on and off the beaten track offer a
variety of experiences. From great tours in nature to close cultural encounters, and facilities
suitable for the eco-tourist like green resorts and organic fair trade shops.

Green hotels and resorts

The ASEAN countries and the Philippines among them strongly supports ecotourism. In 2008
they started granting the ASEAN Green Hotel Award. In the last convention as many as 10
Filipino hotels received the acclaimed award, based on strict criteria: air management and
control, energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, green products, recycling, fair salaries and
payments, etc.

The hotels mentioned above are in: Bohol (3), Batanes, Cebu/Mactan (2), Baguio (2), Davao,
and Puerto Princesa Palawan. Those are the official ones that managed to stand up to the
remarkably high standards set by ASEAN. On top of that there are many hotels that follow this
path, as they want to take part in this important movement.

Booking eco-hotels on your vacation isn’t going to be the cheapest option. However, It’s going
to contribute to the wellbeing of the environment and locals you’ll personally meet. On top of
that, the quality of service and amenities are superb and will only enhance your experience. Ask
us to book the greenest hotels in the destinations you want to visit and we’ll make your vacation
much more responsible.

How can my trip be greener?

Not everybody is an eco-tourist, or even aware of such matters. If you wish to make your stay in
the Philippines more eco-friendly you can easily do so by asking us to customize your package to
be more environmental. You can choose if your activities should include cultural tours and treks
in nature. We will also find you the most eco-friendly accommodation available in all of your
chosen destinations.

Keep in mind that even doing that for a part of your vacation is beneficial to the wellbeing of the
local communities and environments, and better than overlooking the matter altogether. Contact
us for creating a green package to meet both your dreams and ideals.

CY-2019-2Q-Regional-Economic-Situationer.pdf

The Philippines, which is composed of three main island groups – Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao - is an
emerging ecotourism hotspot in Southeast Asia [3]. As one of the world’s largest archipelagos, it has an
abundance of natural sites and cultural environments which makes it a viable ecotourism destination.
According to statistics, tourism activities have contributed significantly to the country’s economic
growth over the past five years [4]. The Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that, in terms of
economic performance, the tourism sector has shown no signs of slowdown since 2014-2018, during
which it contributed an average of 11.43 percent, annually, to the national output (GDP) and generated
at least 4.82 million tourism-related jobs each year [5]. In fact, international tourist arrivals grew at an
average annual rate of 9.11 percent for the same period, with 2018 posting the highest record of 7.13
million arrivals [5]. However, despite the economic benefits that tourism has brought to the country,
tourism-related activities still pose threats to local tourism destinations and host communities,
especially relating to ecological and biophysical issues

The core ethos and principles of the ecotourism sector are also beginning to permeate mainstream
tourism businesses in response to increasing demand by tourists and the cost savings that can be made
by ‘going green’.

Vision

To enhance the quality and diversity of Myanmar Tourism by creating an environmentally sustainable
luxury resort, while also providing a positive socioeconomic benefit in the local community.

Objectives  Provide a high standard of services for guests with relaxing, comfortable and memorable
experiences of Myanmar culture and nature through designing activities in a way that cannot harm the
environment.  Intend to have minimal impact on the local environment
 To play a significant role in the protection, preservation and promotion of the Myanmar natural
environment with ecological practice.

Mission

Provide excellent hospitality experience with eco-friendly surrounding and introducing guests to new
ways of sustainable living, by delivering quality service in an atmosphere of comfort through sustaining
the environmental responsibility.