TO PUSH further the tourism sector in the country, public and private stakeholders are urged to work together in implementing measures to address climate change.
Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, chief executive officer of World Wildlife Fund Philippines, pointed out that the consequences of climate change—intense tropical cyclones; the rise in sea levels; and strong rainfall, river flow and floods—could drastically affect coastlines of the provinces.
The volume of tourist arrivals would be affected, he said during the Eco-Mismo: The Philippine Conference on Ecotourism and Eco-Productivity yesterday at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.
In an interview, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said most of the foreign and domestic tourists prefer staying in places near the sea.
“If a 12-meter rise will happen to our seas (due to climate change), all our resort destinations will be under water,” he said.
This situation prompted former Philippine president Fidel Ramos to call on conference participants to do something for the survival of the environment—a call that was well-received.
The audience was composed of representatives of hotels, travel agencies, government agencies, tour operator companies and non-government organizations, among others.
“Our younger ones and several generations from now will enjoy the bounty of Mother Earth, if we take care of it. We are aboard the same ship, and each time we see a leak, let’s fix it,” Ramos said.
He added that with the people united to protect the environment, economic progress, social reforms and sustainability will ensue.
Tan also warned that inappropriate tourism development and practice can degrade habitats and landscapes, deplete natural resources, and generate waste and pollution.
Durano lamented that Filipinos have the tendency to think that climate change is an event that will happen in the future, and not today.
“Unless the population will see these challenges as urgent, we will not see leaders who will address these challenges,” he said.
One way to make the public accept climate change as one of our challenges is through education, he said.
During the conference’s open forum, Rachel “Cutie” del Mar, who is running for congresswoman of the north district of Cebu City, suggested a summit on environmental preservation to involve private and government entities as a first step in addressing climate change.
“There is a need to develop information channels to educate the youth and community in conservation of water and our natural resources to sustain eco-productivity in a clean environment,” she said.