Boracay Investors urged to help make Boracay a friendly tourist destination

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Tourists and tourism stakeholders have been urged to take hands to make the world-famous Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan as the “country’s model climate-friendly tourist destination.”

The campaign, dubbed “Save the Climate, Save Boracay” highlighted over the weekend a workshop on energy efficiency and “what resorts can do to lessen their climate footprint.”

The initiative gathered global environmental advocate group Greenpeace and experts from the Green Architecture Movement of United Architects of the Philippines, Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco), and Solar, Wind and Electric Power, Inc. (SWEP).

A Renewable Energy (RE) exhibition demonstrating how solar power can work for resorts as well as tourists was also organized by Solar Generation, the Greenpeace’s youth movement.

“Save the Climate, Save Boracay,” the first of its kind in the Philippines, was launched last June during the “Save the Climate Philippine Tour” of Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior.

A manifesto signed by Boracay’s tourism industry stakeholders pushes for the inclusion of energy efficiency measures and promotion of renewable energy use as part of environmental management plans for the island, particularly in the construction or expansion of establishments and the provision of regular energy audits.

It also promotes skills trainings and workshops for establishments to ensure the continuation and replication of successful practices in the areas of energy and water conservation as well as ecological waste management.

“Save the Climate, Save Boracay” is supported by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Tourism (DOT), Malay municipal government, Task Force Boracay, Boracay Foundation, Inc. (BFI), Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Boracay (PCCI-Boracay), and Boracay Association of Resorts, Restaurants and Independent Allies (BARRIA).

The initiative was made possible through a grant from the Foundation for the Philippine Environment.

“This is an initiative to focus attention on climate change issue and the need for all to take assertive action. Tourism that is so dependent on natural and socio-cultural environment needs to be in the forefront working with conservationists and all citizens to achieve the goal,” Greenpeace Southeast Asia Campaigner Beng Reyes-Ong said in a statement.

Ong explained: “The tourism sector is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. For example, in the Philippines, the DOT’s Anchor Destinations are vulnerable to permanent or episodic flooding. These sites include premier beaches, mangrove forests and world-class dive spots.”

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the tourism sector contributes to climate change through greenhouse-gas emissions largely from the transport and accommodation of tourists.

“Becoming energy efficient to address climate change is a win-win situation. Resorts will save money by saving electricity while contributing to mitigating climate change impacts. Tourists can also learn about climate change solutions from the resorts for awareness when they go back home or visit other places,” said Ong.