MANILA, August 10, 2010—A “litter-free” environment is not only good for the health but a boost to tourism as well, an environmental group said.
EcoWaste Coalition, a waste and pollution watchdog, called on the Department of Tourism to implement an existing environmental policy to clean the country of ubiquitous garbage.
Aside from being health hazards, the garbage in the metropolis and elsewhere also drive tourists away, the group said.
In a letter sent to the Department of Tourism (DOT) the group asked DOT Secretary Alberto Lim to implement a circular signed by former Secretary Joseph Ace Durano declaring “'Zero Tourism Waste as a goal and direction for sustainable tourism and development.”
“We trust that the implementation of Zero Waste in the tourism sector will be a cornerstone of your strategy to preserve our rich cultural and natural heritage that has been attracting domestic and foreign visitors,” wrote Roy Alvarez, EcoWaste Coalition president.
Alvarez said the tourism industry will get a boost if a litter-free environment is adopted by the department.
“Protecting our tourist attractions and destinations from waste and other forms of environmental abuse and neglect is key to any tourism development strategy that will bolster our competitive edge over our Asian neighbours,” he said.
Alvarez urged Lim to pursue the concept of “litter-free Pilipinas” and make it a flagship campaign of DOT during the six-year term of the Aquino presidency.
“Under your leadership, we expect the entire tourism industry to play a high-profile role in instilling environmental awareness and responsibility among all the tourism stakeholders,” he said.
Alvarez said both the tourism sector and the environment will benefit if a crusade against littering will be implemented.
The DOT circular states "tourism establishments and facilities [that] generate significant volume of waste can be considerably reduced to zero if a policy on waste prevention, reduction, separation at source, recycling and composting is put in place and genuinely carried out."
Likewise, the memorandum also seeks to promote the “education and training on ecological solid waste management (ESWM) in the tourism sector; inclusion of ESWM as a basic requirement for the accreditation of hotels and other tourism-related establishments; and the greening of tourists events and destinations.” (CBCPNews)
