PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) -- The City Tourism Office (CTO) opened Tourism Month by highlighting its focus on green investment to help address global warming and minimize carbon dioxide emissions.
Tourism Officer Demetrio Alvior said on September 5, that this year’s theme, ‘Tourism and Green Investment, also aligns with the strategy of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The opening of the month-long celebration held at SM Puerto Princesa, which also featured a tourism trade fair for various stakeholders in the city,
"Green Investment is the strategy of the United Nations World Tourism Organization to encourage entrepreneurs to invest [in] green tourism like innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation. But not limited dyan, including investment to people, sa talents, or human capital development," he said.
The opening was attended by local players in the tourism industry, including accommodation, tour guides, travel agencies, drivers and operators, and community-based sustainable sites.
City Tourism Officer Demetrio Alvior opens the celebration of Tourism Month at SM Puerto Princesa Mall on September 5. (Photo by Rachel Ganancial)
Alvior added that one of the city government’s directions for the tourism industry is to be the center of meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibits (MICE). This goal is pushing for the need to have additional convention centers to house around 5,000 to 30,000 individuals for national and international activities.
The government is also working to strengthen sports tourism in Puerto Princesa. Some of the expected international events are the World Table Tennis Championship, Subaraw Biodiversity Festival, Ironman, and International Dragon Boat Championship.
"Pauna pa lang ito ng Dragon Boat because next year, mataas ang probability na we will host ang World Dragon Boat Championship. This is the first time na ang Philippines ay magho-host at dito pa sa Puerto Princesa," he said.
Councilor Patrick Alex Hagedorn of the City Council's Committee on Tourism and City Tourism Officer Demetrio Alvior pose with other stakeholders during the booth visit in the opening of Tourism Month. (Photo by Rachel Ganancial)
Additionally, he encouraged hotels to expand their space so they can accommodate the 9,000 visitors from 75 to 100 nations who are expected in Puerto Princesa. There will also be members of the press joining the event, both national and international.
Other hotels to open in the city will also help to accommodate the regular traffic of tourists in Puerto Princesa.
"Sa tourism sector, this is a very good news sa atin. Umpisa na ito ng pag-angat uli ng turismo sa Puerto Princesa," he added. (RPG/PIA Mimaropa - Palawan)
