The Department of Tourism (DOT) signed a memorandum of agreement with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) to train tourism officers nationwide under the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP).
Under the MOA signed on Feb. 15, 2024 at the DOT Central Office, a series of sustainable training program by the AIM – Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center for Tourism is designed for tourism officers from various local government units (LGUs), integrating sustainability principles and practices into tourism policymaking, planning, management and product development.
“Through the signing of this memorandum of agreement, we will be able to further concretize the commitment of the Marcos administration to equalize tourism development and promotions across the country,” said Frasco.
The Sustaining Tourism Development Training (STDT) is a crucial step towards enabling tourism destination managers to implement sustainable development plans, aligning with the vision of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028.
It also reaffirms the DOT’s commitment to international policies and frameworks, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the ASEAN Framework on Sustainable Tourism, the UN Tourism’s Environment, Social and Governance Framework and the Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism.
Part 1 of the STDT is a one-month self-paced online course culminating in a two-day onsite session scheduled for April 17 to 18, 2024 at AIM. This phase targets tourism officers, DOT regional offices and central office representatives.
Part 2, a four-day onsite program designed for DOT executives and management committee, regional directors and central office representatives, will focus on refining the proposals from Part 1 to ensure integration, feasibility and alignment with sustainable development.
“By integrating sustainability and tourism development as a theoretical and practical priority, we will ensure the long-term viability of the economic livelihood and employment opportunities provided by your tourism destinations,” Frasco said.