Albay to host PATA confab on tourism, climate change

Albay will host the New Tourism Frontiers Forum 2015 on Nov. 25-27 with ecotourism and climate change as the main topics.

Organized by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the forum is expected to bring economic benefits to the province and further firm up its reputation as a leading tourism growth area in the country.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, one of the lead speakers, will discuss the forum’s theme, “Ecotourism: Transcending Climate Change.”

He will share with foreign delegations Albay’s experiences on climate adaptation and tourism strategy.

Albay bested other major bidders in the Asia Pacific region to host the meet. The event will be jointly presided over by Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez and PATA corporate executive officer Mario Hardy.

The forum aims to bring together world tourism experts and players to discuss current and emerging issues related to travel and the environment.

“As host of PATA 2015, Albay shares its unique experiences in transcending the inevitable effects of climate change,” Salceda said.

The United Nations has declared Albay as its Global Model in climate change adaptation. After suffering 46 percent damage in 2006, the province quickly recovered by using tourism as one of its principal tools for reconstruction.

The forum serves as the opening salvo for the destination-based objective of “Visit the Philippines Again 2016,” the country’s first massive retail-focused tourism campaign, with Albay and the Department of Tourism as partners in the project.