Tourism stakeholders urged to think less of income, more of sustainability

Through the TPB Fun Goes Green, some 20 TPB personnel and at least one participant from a PR agency will go to three local destinations for the months of May until October to provide better recognition for environmental impacts of tourism. (PNA photo)

MANILA – A team of employees working for the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT,) are traveling to different ecotourism destinations in the Philippines to encourage tourism stakeholders to be involved in living on green environment and not just think of income.

Through the TPB Fun Goes Green, some 20 TPB personnel and at least one participant from a PR agency will go to three local destinations for the months of May until October to provide better recognition for environmental impacts of tourism.

The local destinations include Occidental Mindoro, Leyte and Palawan, which are known as the country’s top ecotourism sites.

Stakeholders will also be taught to be more aware and have a deeper appreciation on the importance, conservation and preservation of nature and its species.

TPB Fun Goes Green is part of the TPB’s second Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for this year, which was launched to take initiative to engage creatively in programs, projects and activities that increase green and environmental awareness.

“TPB and its employees, as ambassadors of green and sustainable tourism aim to impose this project to help conserve and protect our environment and its species,” TPB project officer Mary Jane Mabagos said.

Mabagos said a change on the outlook towards green and sustainable tourism would be expected through the joint initiatives and efforts of TPB employees, LGUs and tourism stakeholders.

“In May 2016, the TPB implemented its first CSR in Occidental Mindoro. The employees were involved in different initiatives such as Tamaraw counting orientation, trail assessment, mangrove planting and identification, coastal and underwater clean up, and feeding program for Indigenous People,” she said.

Mabagos meanwhile urged other tourism stakeholders to contribute to sharing the project with local government units (LGUs) as well as the whole community.