Philippine Department of Tourism Pushes Rural Tourism to Hike Countryside Income

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The Department of Tourism (DOT) is promoting community-based rural tourism to optimize the production and sale of indigenous products, boost household incomes and encourage ecological preservation in the countryside.

The DOT is coordinating with Asian Productivity Organization Japan, Philippine Small and Medium Business Development Foundation, Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC) for this program.

According to Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, â€œThe community-based rural tourism project was designed to stimulate sustainable economic activity in the countryside and open up more opportunities to uplift the quality of life.â€

The tourism chief added that the project complements the DOTâ€™s thrust to protect natural resources by offering eco-tourism as a better alternative to dynamite fishing, slash-and-burn farming and other practices that destroy, pollute and endanger the rural environment.

To help jumpstart the program, a seminar on Community-Based Rural Tourism will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Cebu City on March 26-28.

The seminar aims to enlighten community organizations and enterprises on the many opportunities from rural tourism, how to market and promote their local culture, natural attractions, products and services as package. Participants will further learn how to develop and preserve natural and man-made assets.

The sessions will also cover the basics of project planning and implementation, establishing a hospitality industry in rural destinations and maintaining the delivery of high-quality services to meet traveler expectations.

â€œWe plan to share with them models of best practices in rural tourism management, thus raising the level of their capabilities in this new enterprise,â€ Durano explained.

Representatives national and provincial tourism organizations and from local industry associations and chambers of commerce are expected to attend the seminar. Small and medium entrepreneurs, provincial and municipal officials, travel agents, tour operators, and executives of local hotels and resorts will also be present.

As of this report, over 220 participants have confirmed their attendance for the seminar, exceeding the targeted number of 150.