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Dinagat rolls out new tourism brand anchored on conservation

By Alexander Lopez

September 28, 2020, 7:38 pm

<p><strong>NEW DIRECTION.</strong> Dinagat Islands province Governor Arlene 'Kaka' Bag-ao (left) and DENR-13 Regional Executive Director Hadja Didaw Piang-Brahim lead the signing of a document on Sunday (Sept. 27, 2020) signifying the start of the new tourism direction in the island-province. Officials say the new tourism branding aims to promote community-based tourism with a focus on conservation. <em>(Photo courtesy of PDI Information Office)</em></p>

NEW DIRECTION. Dinagat Islands province Governor Arlene 'Kaka' Bag-ao (left) and DENR-13 Regional Executive Director Hadja Didaw Piang-Brahim lead the signing of a document on Sunday (Sept. 27, 2020) signifying the start of the new tourism direction in the island-province. Officials say the new tourism branding aims to promote community-based tourism with a focus on conservation. (Photo courtesy of PDI Information Office)

BUTUAN CITY – The province of Dinagat Islands launched Sunday a new brand of tourism that is grounded on community conservation.

Under the new direction, tourism on the island will not only promote its stunning beaches and picturesque tourist spots but also focus on the involvement of communities in conserving nature, Jeff Crisostomo, Dinagat Islands provincial information officer, told the Philippine News Agency Monday in an interview.

“Involving the communities in tourism means people in localities enforce the rules, policies, and guidelines in nature conservation,” Crisostomo said, adding that communities would also be involved in other tourism-related business opportunities such as food and transportation services.

“Education of the members of the communities will also be part of our new direction where they will learn on the important relationship between community and nature. They need to know how important nature is in relationship to the existence of communities here in Dinagat Island,” Crisostomo said.

The island's new tourism branding, he said, seeks to harmonize the "relationship between the communities and the environment."

During Sunday's launching, which coincided with the World Tourism Day, Governor Arlene “Kaka” Bag-o led the signing of a document titled “A Commitment to Promote and Uphold Community Conservation Tourism in the Province of Dinagat Islands.

Bag-ao was joined by Regional Executive Director Hadja Didaw Piang-Brahim of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-13), Mary Jean Camarin of the Department of Tourism (DOT-13), and Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat, Jr. of the Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13).

In her message, Bag-ao said that the essence of conservation tourism is the creation of communities that are conscious of their relationship with the natural surroundings.

“Resilient, self-reliant, and healthy communities of active and empowered citizens who work and share equitably the fruits of their labor and the natural wealth of the islands, cognizant and respectful of their carrying capacity in a vibrant local economy, living in peace and solidarity with one another,” the governor said.

She said Dinagat Islands residents should promote the province's tourist attractions mainly "not to seek profit but because of love and pride of the home that the people of Dinagat Islands live, reside, take shelter and thrive."

“Community conservation tourism is our future. And this future, in the beautiful island ecosystem we call home -- in our beloved Dinagat Islands, is now,” Bag-ao said.

Effects of pandemic

Meanwhile, Crisostomo said the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis has brought negative effects to the island-province's tourism.

“There are restrictions to protect us from the virus of Covid-19. This pandemic has affected tourist arrivals in our province,” Crisostomo said.

As an alternative, he said the provincial government will encourage the people of Dinagat Islands to visit places and spots in the area they have not yet visited.

Internal tourism, he added, has already attracted many residents in the province to visit other sites during the pandemic.

Growth in tourist arrivals was noted in the province during the first three quarters of 2019, with a rate of 47.41 percent compared to the same period in 2018, data from DOT-13 said.

During the period, tourist arrivals on the island were recorded at 76,389 compared to 51,822 arrivals in the first three quarters in 2018.

Domestic tourists topped the count during the period with 75,596 and foreign tourists with 793 arrivals.

DOT-13 also noted the consistent growth in tourist arrivals in the islands from 2017 to 2019. (PNA)

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