Hotels, resorts urged to engage in ‘sustainable’ tourism

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) urged hotels and resorts to be accredited by the agency to receive the assistance that can propel their transition to become more sustainable.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said that the perks of being DOT-accredited include having access to technical tools and experts on sustainable tourism.

“DOT will continue to focus on marketing sustainability to the public, educating them on how to be sustainable tourists while also encouraging tourists to support accredited businesses that have exemplary green practices,” she said in a statement released in time for World Environment Day on June 5, 2021.

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DOT cited Crimson Hotel and Spa Mactan in Cebu, Nurture Wellness Village in Tagaytay, Club Balai Isabel in Batangas, and Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort in Palawan as examples of establishments with good practices in terms of managing and reducing their waste, energy consumption, and water consumption.

These establishments have received the Anahaw Philippine Sustainable Tourism Certification awards, which DOT developed in 2018 through technical assistance from the European Union-GRAT. It is the local equivalent of the ASEAN Green Hotel Awards.

DOT said that the Anahaw certification gives an enterprise a competitive advantage because the consciousness of travelers is high.

“The Anahaw certification is one of our ways to ensure we provide excellent service for our tourists without compromising our natural resources and the community. Our tourists are more likely to support tourism operators that care for the environment,” Puyat said. (NRC, PR)