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Official Publication of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol Regional Office, in cooperation with the RIAC-REDIRAS - RDC Bicol



Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Albay holds Blue Summit to step up eco-nautical tourism protection

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct 29 (PIA) – The provincial government of Albay launched the “Greening the Blue Summit” through the Albay Blue Lane Eco-Nautical Tourism, under the stewardship of the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) to promote eco-tourism while at the same time protect the natural and ecological treasures of Albay from exploitation and damage.

The two-day program held October 26-27, 2014 at the People’s Hall capitol building here is attended by TRAVEL AGENCIES accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT), tourism officers, tourism committee chairmen and municipal treasurers of coastal local government units from the province.

The seminar focused on the ecological wonders that Albay is known for which has been dubbed as the blue lane tourism program of the PGA, giving extra attention to the sustainable utilization of marine resources found in the province.

PTCAO chief Dorothy Colle said in her opening message that she hoped all those in attendance will have a better familiarization with the CRABS area, in reference to the collective Albay islands of Cagraray, Rapu-rapu, Batan, and San Miguel, and realize that there is more to Albay than just Mayon Volcano.

She also said that “promotion of these areas and resources will allow us to develop new tourism areas that tourist will enjoy and for Albay to earn additional resources from.”

The two-day seminar started with discussions and presentations on the Blue Lane Eco-Nautical Tourism Program, best practices and sustainable schemes, tour destinations, introduction to scuba diving and a commitment signing from the participants.

The second day featured an island tour at Cagraray Island.

Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda, who launched the Blue Lane Eco-Nautical program earlier this year said before that “the program focused on the oceans as ‘development spaces’ providing a substantial portion of the global population with food, livelihood and means of transport for 80 percent of world trade.”

Salceda further stated that the “marine and coastal environment constitutes a key resource for the important global tourism industry; supporting all aspects of tourism development cycle from infrastructure and the familiar ‘sun, sand and sea’ formula, to the diverse and expanding domain of nature-based tourism.”

Board Member Ramon Alsua, Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries, also graced the opening of the seminar and said in his message that “Albay has grown leaps and bounds in the tourism sector and it is all our responsibility not only to sustain these achievements, but also to further it.”

 “We, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Albay, are one with the governor in his direction for excellence and promotion of eco-tourism,” he added.(MAL/SAA/PIO-PGAlbay/PIA5)



- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2571414568264/albay-holds-blue-summit-to-step-up-eco-nautical-tourism-protection#sthash.JvmtCqe3.dpuf

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