Batanes has notched a new milestone as the first Philippine destination to be granted membership in the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a group that will help preserve the uniqueness of the islands while ensuring developments benefit both the locals and visitors amid the province’s ever-growing popularity among world travelers.
The Batanes archipelago of ten islands is the northernmost province of the Philippines. Only the three largest islands are inhabited by locals including the Ivatan indigenous people, with Basco as its capital. Batanes has drawn tourists for its breathtaking views overlooking the Pacific Ocean, its traditional architecture in stone in response to the winds and monsoon weather resulting in the iconic vernacular house with meter-thick stone walls topped by equally durable cogon roofing, and its biodiverse landscape of unique plants and endemic animals that also serve as a sanctuary for migratory birds.
UNWTO announced Batanes’ member status on June 20, 2023. “[Batanes] is committed to supporting the sustainable development of tourism based on evidence and a participatory approach. These commitments are instrumental in building a sustainable and resilient tourism sector that benefits the local people, the Ivatans, as well as visitors while ensuring environmental and cultural conservation,” the organization stated in its press release.
Batanes is the 38th global observatory in the group of worldwide travel destinations overseeing tourism’s economic, environmental, and social outcomes. Specifically, these sites focus on monitoring energy, water, sewage, and waste management; accessibility; climate action; employment; local satisfaction; and governance, among others.
The organization aims for sustainability to be incorporated into tourism practices, harmonizing the needs of both tourists and locals. The Batanes Observatory is managed by the Batanes Tourism and Hospitality Monitoring Center (BTHMC), a multi-disciplinary team from the University of the Philippines Diliman composed of the Asian Institute of Tourism, the Department of Hotel Restaurant and Institution Management, and the Institute of Civil Engineering. Tourism stakeholders in Batanes comprise the technical working group working closely with the research team in managing the operations of the Observatory. A partnership with the Batanes State College and the Provincial Government of Batanes has been established for carrying out research activities.
“Being part of this network will allow us to better assess the impact of the growing tourism sector in the Batanes Islands and provide us with the relevant evidence to inform future policies and decisions to ensure that tourism is sustainable and resilient,” Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco added. In its press briefing, the UNWTO noted that Batanes had cooperated with the indigenous Ivatans to pinpoint sustainability issues throughout the islands.
Amazing news! Our very own Batanes has just been declared a sustainable tourism observatory by @UNWTO, the first of its kind in the country. Story to follow on @GoodNewsPinas_ pic.twitter.com/fXYTC5UU8P
— Summer Sanares (@scvannasummer) July 2, 2023
In 2016, the Batanes Responsible Tourism Act had taken effect within the province. Declaring Batanes a cultural heritage and ecotourism zone, the law bolstered biodiversity conservation. It also gave preference to tourism-oriented small businesses owned by the Ivatans and other Batanes natives.
Batanes’ membership in the network was officially endorsed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in an official letter to UNWTO last March 31, 2023. The move was supported by the Philippine embassy in Madrid, Spain.
“For destinations to thrive until the next generations, sustainability must be at the core of development,” DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Franco said in response to UNWTO’s announcement.
Read the full UNWTO announcement here:
https://twitter.com/GoodNewsPinas_/status/1675749455482753024
This year, Batanes was crowned as the top tourist site by The Travel. TripZilla magazine also praised Batanes’ beautifully secluded beaches last May 2023.
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to the people of Batanes, the first Philippine sustainable tourism observatory!
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