Pusod, Inc. opened yesterday the 1st Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL) Ecotourism Summit 2014 that will run until November 28 at Pusod Taal Lake Conservation Center, Sitio Lipute, Barangay Kinalaglagan, Mataasnakahoy, Batangas.
Participants are community tour guides, tourism officers, and other tourism service providers from TVPL and adjacent municipalities of Batangas Province.
The summit aims to build capacity on ecotourguiding and nature interpretation of local guides with topics on conservation values, historical and socio-cultural contexts, biological and physical features of TVPL. For the local guides, a special session on personality and values development and tasks and techniques of effective ecotourguiding will also be discussed. In addition, there will be workshop sessions on presentation of existing ecotour packages and networking with experts on marketing and promotion of ecotours.
The five-day event is in partnership with Taal Volcano Protected Landscape Protected Area Superintendent Office and Globe Bridging Communities.
The Asean Center for Biodiversity will talk about ASEAN Heritage Parks while the Department of Tourism will present the National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan 2013-2022. TVPL experts from DENR, PHIVOLCS, National Museum, and the University of Santo Tomas. Mayor Epifanio Sandoval of San Nicolas, Batangas will present the ecotourism business plan of his municipality. De La Salle Lipa tourism faculty and students are also collaborators in this activity.
On Wednesday, Nov 26, there will be field visits in Old Tanauan, inTalisay, Ambon-ambon Falls in Laurel, Old Taal Church Ruins in San Nicolas; Bombon Ruins in Sta. Teresita, and Binukalan Shrine in Alitagtag.
On Friday, experts on ecotourism promotion and marketing will also be presenting such as Pinay Keypoint, Kawil Tours, and Travel Update Philippines. Cavinti, Laguna’s Municipal Administrator Forester Rick Jayson Tatlonghari will present the town’s cave management plan.
Municipalities will have the opportunity to present and improve their ecotourism packages.