CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has reaffirmed its support for sustainable tourism initiatives that protect the country’s natural resources, strengthen local communities, and build more resilient destinations across Luzon.
DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo, who represented Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, expressed the agency’s commitment during the 1st Luzon Sustainable Tourism Summit held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center in Zambales.
Pablo said tourism destinations should be viewed not only as places that attract visitors but also as living ecosystems, cultural heritage sites, and homes of local communities.
“By embracing regenerative ecotourism and harnessing digitalization, we can heal degraded landscapes, strengthen livelihoods, and connect communities to new opportunities,” Pablo said.
He emphasized that tourism development must go beyond increasing visitor arrivals and economic activity, and should also protect the environment and create opportunities for communities that depend on natural resources and tourism for their livelihoods.
“Our local communities must remain at the center of sustainable tourism efforts, particularly fisherfolk, Indigenous Peoples, entrepreneurs, and the youth,” Pablo noted.
The DENR’s commitment to sustainable tourism is aligned with the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which promotes development that advances economic growth while protecting the environment and expanding opportunities for local communities.
Representatives from national government agencies, local government units, tourism enterprises, academic institutions, industry associations, and other tourism stakeholders joined the summit.
With the theme “Innovate, Integrate, Inspire: Redesigning Sustainable and Resilient Tourism through Digitalization,” the gathering provided a platform for stakeholders to share practices, forge partnerships, and identify solutions that can advance responsible and sustainable tourism across Luzon. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)