THE Department of Tourism (DOT) and the John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) are now laying the foundation for the development of “forest bathing” as a sustainable health and wellness tourism activity in the city and the BLISTT areas.
DOT regional director Venus Tan with JHMC vice president Jane Theresa Tabalingcos led a small group of artists through the length of the Camp John Hay (CJH) Yellow trail for a walk through of the pilot site for the “forest bathing” area.
Forest bathing or shinrin-yoku originated from Japan, which literally means taking in the forest atmosphere, is a practice of baking in the sights, smells and sounds of a natural setting to improve physiological health.
Basically, it is the leisurely visit to a forest, in the presence of trees. It has been proven that forest environments could lower concentrations of stress hormones called “cortisol, lower pulse rates, lowers blood pressure, increase parasympathetic nerve activity, lower sympathetic nerve activity compared with city settings.
The trail at the CJH area spans a trek of four kilometers through pine forest covers and is eyed to be a site for art installations by local artists.
DOT envisions the area to integrate with the eco trails and creative spaces where artworks and pieces could be installed to enhance sensory experience.
Artists tapped to partner with the tourism department and the JHMC were the Tam – Awan group of artists led by solar painter Jordan Mang-osan, Gretta Apolinar and Clinton Anniversario with Lolita Anniversario from the Palina Art Gallery, sculptor Gilbert Gano and Edgar Banasen with the Pasakalye artists led by Maricar Docyogen with Raquel Diokno, Gerald Asbucan and Abby Matib.
The artists are set to submit proposals for their desired installations and will be studied by the group on how to implement and fund the works as well as to craft measures for its security and sustainability.
The project aims to develop an urban forest bathing site and become a pioneering tourism activity in the city that espouses sustainable tourism and supports protection and preservation of urban forests and protected parks.
Forest bathing is eyed to be an urban tourism activity that improves the health and wellbeing of people as well as establish the CJH as a forest bathing site and integrate it with existing tourism activities.