We're at it again! Making waves in the international tourism scene proves to be beneficial for the country these days. We're getting positive reviews from tourism stalwarts with our destinations and with our best tourism practices.
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| *image from www.elnidoresorts.com |
First on our story today is that El Nido has been lauded as one of four leading sustainable tourism businesses and destinations worldwide. This comes as a great honor for the country's tourism drive since it was given by the World Travel and Tourism Council which is based in Abu Dhabi. Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2013 is considered the "Oscars" for tourism and so it's no ordinary feat to pull this one off.
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| *photo from www.elnidoresorts.com |
Owned by Ten Knots Corporation, El Nido has three resorts in Palawan: Lagen Island, Miniloc and another one being developed which used to be a privately owned resort. The award recognizes Ten Knots' efforts at sustainability of the islands and its ecological commitment to the environment as well as community development and local employment fro residents in the area. Apparently, at least 90% of its employees are residents in the community and the top management are locals who have worked and have been trained for management positions.
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| *image from inquirer.net |
On a separate note, the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) was recently included on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance The wetlands and mangrove area is visible as one enters the coastal road project en route to Cavite. This is the sixth largest marshland in the Philippines and the only one in the greater Manila area. LPPCHEA is a 175-hectare urban coastal wetland that covers two islands—Freedom Island in Parañaque and Long Island in Las Piñas—and some 30 hectares of dense mangrove forests. The Ramsar web post noted, however, that the site is under threat from “ongoing land reclamation projects and mangrove cutting” as well as residential and industrial wastes from surrounding area.*
Kudos goes to Pas Pinas representative Cynthia Villar (now gunning for a senate post in the 2013 elections) for opposing the reclamation project in the area. With the RAMSAR certification, the area has become an internationally protected area and can be virtually untouched by any reclamation projects.
| *image from philstar.com |
Kudos goes to Pas Pinas representative Cynthia Villar (now gunning for a senate post in the 2013 elections) for opposing the reclamation project in the area. With the RAMSAR certification, the area has become an internationally protected area and can be virtually untouched by any reclamation projects.
| *image from globalpost.com |
Now for some bad news, it hasn't been long since a US Navy minesweeper USS Guardian ran aground in our Tubbataha marine protected sanctuary. Last April 10 a Chinese fishing vessel that went into the protected marine area and did exactly the same thing, posing a threat to our marine resources in the area. 12 Chinese fishermen were apprehended and will be charged for poaching, damaging corals, bribery to park rangers and carrying explosives in their vessel. Republic Act 10067 which seeks to protect the area should and must be enforced at all costs now that the beauty of our natural resources is being noted worldwide.
*Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/386293/bird-haven-defenders-get-international-boost#ixzz2QETWN1CV
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