Albay hosts Asean tourism workshop

LEGAZPI CITY – Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) representatives met here recently to draw up an action plan designed to address new issues on climate change affecting the region and at the same time come up with strategies to boost tourism.

The two- day First Asean Tourism Workshop on Climate Change was attended by about 50 tourism ministers and policy makers from the 10 member-countries, including 30 from the Philippines.

“Our goal is a resilient ASEAN through inclusive tourism. A resilient ASEAN is a categorical imperative for our nations and, collectively the regional imperative is a resilient Asean that can be sustained through inclusive tourism,” Albay Gov. Joey Salceda explained at the conference held at the Oriental Hotel in Legazpi City.

Albay, the host province, is itself a showcase of resiliency rising from devastations of calamities to become one of the country’s premier tourism destinations. Backed by Salceda’s innovative programs its tourism industry grew by 17 percent in 2011, even surpassing the 14 percent national growth rate despite the cancellation of about 22 percent of airplane flights due to bad weather, five of them, typhoons.

The Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) on a plateau in Daraga town, far from flood prone areas, but in a clear view of the scenic Mayon Volcano, is set to open in 2014.

It is expected to help draw more tourists. A relocation site for disaster victims is now being developed as a tourism destination called Albay Agri-Ethno Ecotourism Village.

Salceda has spearheaded the formation of the AlbayMasbate- Sorsogon Tourism Alliance (ALMASORTA) that aims to draw 650,000 foreign tourists to Bicol in five years. It incorporates the potentials of the SLIA, modernization of the South Luzon Railways, the proposed four-lane Naga-Legazpi freeway system, the upgraded Mayon International