PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) — The Department of Tourism (DOT) implements a tourism dispersal strategy to avoid overtourism in top destinations in the Mimaropa region and introduce other potential destinations to help promote sustainability in tourism.
DOT Mimaropa Regional Director Roberto Alabado III said that the department is now assisting Coron and El Nido sites to integrate sustainable tourism into their programs in cooperation. DOT is also in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to help sites resolve overtourism issues.
Alabado believes that a dispersal strategy will help introduce tourism products to neighboring towns like San Vicente and Taytay.
“Isa sa nakikita namin ay i-disperse mo ang mga tao. Bakit lahat kayo nakatutok lang buong araw sa El Nido? Pwede naman kayo bumisita sa Taytay, San Vicente para mabawas-bawasan ang mga tao doon sa araw. At the same time, we need to explore new products outside,” he said.
The Department, together with the local government units, should develop new attractions and destinations every year to introduce something new for tourists. It will also help to encourage guests to visit the provinces again, he said, adding that it is also essential to prepare the newly developed sites for accepting tourists to avoid experiencing the problem of overtourism again.
“Kung gusto nyo mapatuloy ang pag-iikot ng mga turista dito sa Pilipinas, it is a challenge for the Department of Tourism and local government units na meron tayong constantly new product development,” Alabado said.
Aside from ensuring the sustainability of the tourism destinations, DOT also prioritizes the security of guests, both domestic and international, through the Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP).
DOT trains TOPCOP, commonly known as tourist police, in handling concerns of different nationalities and also performing duties as an information officer on the ground. (RG/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan)
