The Department of Tourism (DOT) has collaborated with the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) in holding a webinar training program for the hospitality sector to reduce single-use plastics while keeping in mind health and safety protocols.
The DOT is inviting hotels, resorts and other enterprises to a training webinar entitled “Responsible Tourism through Plastic Upcycling and Waste Management” on December 15 at 1:30 PM. This training is organized by the Transforming Tourism Value Chains (TVC) project, in cooperation with UN Environment (UNEP) and Clean our Oceans Project (CoOp), with guest speakers from World Wide Fund for Nature – Philippines (WWF).
This webinar aims to educate the hospitality sector on how to reduce plastic usage to help save marine life and from the COVID-19 pandemic. Interested participants can register through this link: https://bit.ly/PlasticUpcyclingWasteManagementReg
The initiative is part of DOT’s Save Our Spots campaign to unite the tourism sector in addressing the causes of plastic pollution by enabling stakeholders to reduce plastic usage and encourage their guests to take part in the change. The campaign directly supports the Roadmap for Low-Carbon and Resource-Efficient Tourism in the Philippines, a strategic document that pushes for sustainability and growth by protecting the natural beauty of the Philippines.
According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development, plastic waste worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the increase in the usage of single-use plastic for hygienic purposes. The UNEP adds that these plastics are being washed into the world’s ocean every year, affecting marine biodiversity. Meanwhile, One Planet Network also stated that tourism is affected by plastic pollution since 80% of destinations are located in coastal areas.
Other organizations taking part in the campaign include Reef World Foundation and Philippine Hotel Owners Association, Inc.
To know more about the campaign, visit DOT and TVC’s Official Facebook Pages.
