PH Consul General in Dubai Urges Balance between PH Tourism, Environment

Consul General to Dubai Paul Raymund Cortes stresses the need to balance tourism and the environment. (Dubai PCG photo)

DUBAI 02 May 2019 — Consul General in Dubai Paul Raymund Cortes called for the delicate balance between tourism economics and the environmental sustainability at the latest tourism production presentation held on 23 April 2019 at the Taj Hotel in downtown Dubai.

At a forum held by Durga Das, the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) new marketing representative in the Middle East, Consul General Cortes emphasized the Philippines’ comparative advantage in its marine and aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems. Around 85 tourism industry professionals, travel agents, and travel social media influencers attended the event.

“That the Philippines sits at the center of or is proximal to the center of center of marine biodiversity, the richest conglomeration of aquatic life makes Philippine diving and its sub-industries a unique tourism value proposition,” he said.

He cautioned, however, that there was the need to balance the vision of increasing and accommodating a surge in tourism arrivals with ecological and environmental concerns.

The tourism product presentation forum was a precursor to the 2019 Arabian Travel Market (ATM) which will be held on 28 April until 01 May 2019 at the World Trade Center. Led by DOT and the Tourism Promotion Board (TPB), the Philippine participation in the 2019 ATM is a continuation of its strategy to encourage and entice more tourists from the Middle East to the Philippines. END

Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes with Durga Das' San Jeet and Seema Datt (Dubai PCG photo)

For more information, visit www.dubaipcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinDubai/ or the Consul General's FB page @phcongendubaipaulcortes