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An international tourism organization will be sending several experts for a workshop to help train local government officials and community leaders on developing local travel and leisure programs with emphasis on taking care of the environment.

Department of Tourism Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque, Jr. said the workshop will help local officials mitigate the negative effects of tourism in the environment and "uphold social interests of their respective jurisdictions."

The tourism experts will arrive in October 2007 for a workshop to be held in world famous tourist destination Bohol.

In a statement, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said, "The main reason for the workshop is to encourage local government officials to create projects that empower their communities and protect their environment.

"We want to develop in them a mindset that focuses on how tourism can strengthen the economy in the long term."

He said the event also serves as an evaluation of the impact of tourism and potential growth in the province, which is gaining popularity among international travelers.

The department is pursuing its goal to bring in 3.2 million visitors by the end of 2007 but Jarque said that they are also aware of the mismanaged tourism activities threatens the natural resources, ecology, culture and livelihood in any location.

In a recent tourism meet, the department has earned the support of the United Nations World Tourism Organization for several projects focused on sustainable tourism during a forum on international tourism in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Jarque said he discussed the organization of a workshop on sustainable indicators for local government officials.

He also proposed for the Philippines to host a seminar on tourism satellite accounts for Asian countries and an international tourism forum for parliamentarians and policy makers.

Set in 2009, the forum is meant to be an exchange of ideas on various issues such as climate change, social development, cultural preservation and its relation to travel activities. (PNA)

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