Wednesday, September 10, 2008 DOT lays out plans for tourism forum
CEBU is ready to host the sixth world tourism forum next month.
“All we need now is just the support of the local community and the people,” said Tourism Undersecretary Phineas Alburo during yesterday’s 888 News Forum at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Alburo said 29 out of 135 member-countries of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) have already confirmed they will send delegates to the forum.
“Between now and October, it is still possible that there will be more countries that will confirm their attendance to the forum,” he said.
He added that the Department of Tourism (DOT) expects at least 500 international and local delegates, which will include ministers of tourism and government leaders.
He said that since no heads of state will attend the forum, only basic security measures will be enforced.
The DOT also tapped various hotels in the Cebu City and those located in Mactan to house the delegates.
However, Alburo said the DOT will only shoulder food and transportation expenses during the forum. Hotel accommodation and travel fare will have to be shouldered by the delegates.
This would be the first time for the country to host the United Nations (UN) WTO International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities, which will run from Oct. 21 to 25.
This year’s theme is central to tourism and the millennium development goals of the UN.
Among the topics to be discussed in the forum are the importance of developing a national system on tourism statistics, climate change, communication and ethics in tourism, and measuring employment in the industry.
The itinerary of forum delegates will include a day trip to Bohol—considered as the country’s showcase for sustainable tourism.
President Arroyo, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, House Speaker Prospero Nograles and Secretary General Francisco Frangialli are also expected to attend the event. (DME)
