Cebu to host global forum on tourism development
By Cris Evert Lato
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 12:51:00 09/10/2008
CEBU CITY, Philippines - Tourism and how it can adhere to the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDG) set by the United Nations (UN) will be among the core issues for discussion in an international forum scheduled next month in Cebu.
Around 500 tourism ministers and officials from 135 countries across the globe will be on hand for the 6th United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities.
Set on October 21-25 at the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort and Spa, the forum carries the theme “Tourism and the Millennium Development Goals.”
The MDGs are eight goals set by UN member-states to resolve global development challenges like poverty, education, child mortality and maternal health by 2015.
Undersecretary Phineas Alburo of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said MDG issues concerning climate change, women and poverty reduction affect how tourism moves globally.
“The discussions are geared towards how parliamentarian and local authorities can move with tourism (in developing their countries),” he said.
Alburo said the forum will again place Cebu in the international tourism map similar to last year's Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit.
He said it was important to sustain responsible tourism development since the industry is a major source of economic growth among different countries.
Of the expected 500 participants, Alburo said 50 percent already confirmed they would come to Cebu including 81 international delegates from countries as far as Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and Bolivia.
At the end of the forum, UN-WTO secretary general Francesco Frangialli will give a report on agreements reached by participants.
Alburo said the DOT would not have transportation problems since shuttle buses will be available to bring delegates from their hotels to the conference venue.
“Unlike the ASEAN summit, we don't have so much money to train taxi drivers. But we already talked to LTFRB and LTO to strictly enforce rules for drivers,” the official said.
He said a subtle security presence will also be observed during the forum.
“We will secure delegates without being obvious. Security will be handled by each hotel. The police authorities will just be there to support them,” Alburo said.
All sessions will be held at the Shangri-La except for two dinners at the Cebu International Convention Center and the Cebu Provincial Capitol.
The tourism undersecretary also expressed confidence that international delegates will not cancel participation despite news on the war in Mindanao.
“The issue of travel advisories will always be there. What is important is how we deal with them (advisories) and we do that by promoting positive things such as our destinations,” he said.
Aside from Shangri-La, DOT also identified Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort as official resort hotels in Mactan island.
The Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino and Marco Polo Plaza Cebu are the forum's official city hotels.
A highlight event of the forum is a visit to Bohol province, which is considered a model destination for sustainable tourism.
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