Schools in Eastern Visayas are strongly urged to conduct local education tours to help revitalize the tourism industry in the region badly hit by Covid-19 pandemic.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Eastern Visayas Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said on Friday that the Regional Development Council (RDC) recently approved the resolution recommending the holding of educational trips.

The resolution was forwarded to the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, state universities and colleges, and local government units to revive educational tours.

“This will promote local tourism which will help revolve money around the region. For young learners, it will promote familiarity and pride of place, help them learn more about our history and culture,” Tiopes said in a phone interview.

The tour will also educate elementary and high school students on the importance of appreciating nature and contributing to environmental protection, she added.

“For college students, especially those taking engineering courses, they can visit our industries in Isabel, Leyte, the manufacturers in Baybay City, the geothermal plant in Kananga and Ormoc in Leyte, and even the San Juanico Bridge (engineering marvel) in Tacloban,” Tiopes said.

The official highly recommended visiting heritage structures like old homes and old churches for architecture students.

“Students of all levels can visit our historical sites and for nature appreciation, they can visit our protected areas,” she told the Philippine News Agency.

The RDC believes that the tourism sector is one of the economic growth drivers in the region, raking in PHP26 billion in tourist receipts before the pandemic in 2019.

With the eased pandemic restrictions, schools are encouraged to hold educational tours within the region as a step to sustain a stronger rebound for the tourism sector. (PNA)