Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. File photo/Agence France-Presse
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday called for more sustainable tourism at home and abroad, urging countries to adopt “greener” approaches.
President Marcos made the remarks at the 36th Joint Meeting of the United Nations Commission on Tourism for East Asia and the Pacific and the United Nations Commission on South Asia, which the country hosted in Cebu.
“We need to embrace sustainability in our society, economy and tourism sector. We must become green in the transformation of tourism products and services as a solution to address climate change, resource conservation and long-term industry sustainability,” Marcos said in his speech.
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“In fact, when it comes to tourism, I would go a step further and believe that the more environmentally conscious you are, the better your tourist experience will be,” he added.
Marcos said the government was already working with the private sector to implement reforms to encourage tourists to “visit, stay, spend and return,” including simplifying visa procedures, strengthening water sanitation and health facilities in tourist destinations and improving airports and other connecting hubs.
“By adopting these practices, we can create a tourism industry that not only produces responsible tourists but also improves the lives of those who participate in tourism activities,” the president said.
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Additionally, Marcos stressed the need to invest in education, training and upskilling of personnel working in the tourism industry.
He also stressed the need to engage experts and professionals to make tourism a “meaningful, educational and impactful experience not only for tourists but also for stakeholders.”
“What’s the point of tourism if it’s destroying local culture and ecosystems?” Marcos said.
According to Marcos, the tourism department recorded 5.45 million international tourists in 2023, exceeding its target of 4.8 million.
He said this represents a total tourism direct value of P2.09 trillion in 2023, or 8.6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
Meanwhile, the number of international tourists visiting the Philippines from January to March 2024 is expected to reach 2.9 million.
