Bataan First District Board Member Tony Roman is proposing an ordinance at the Provincial Board amending the Tourism Code of Bataan to include “indigenous tourism.”
Roman said the diverse indigenous communities with rich cultural heritages such as the Ambala and Magbukon Aeta communities in the province can be promoted for tourism.
“There exists an opportunity to promote sustainable tourism that honors and preserves these indigenous culture”, he pointed out.
He said the genuine participation and involvement of these indigenous communities in the tourism industry will not only empower their cultural identity but will also generate economic opportunities for them.
Roman also said indigenous tourism preserves and revitalizes cultures, enabling the transmission of traditional knowledge and practices to future generations.
Roman said an Indigenous Heritage and Tourism Promotion Subcommittee will be created under the Tourism Planning Committee of the provincial government of Bataan.
Board Member Popoy Del Rosario, chairman of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Tourism and Indigenous People Bataan Representative and ex officio Board Member Sonny Magay jointly authored the proposed ordinance.