Batanes is first Philippine member of UNWTO’s network of tourism observatories

MANILA, Philippines — Batanes islands, the northernmost part of the Philippines, has been named a new member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories.

It is the first tourist destination in the country that has been chosen to be part of the UNWTO’s network of tourism observatories, through the Batanes Tourism Hospitality Monitoring Center.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco announced the inclusion of Batanes last Tuesday.

She congratulated the island for this achievement and said that this reflects the sustainable efforts in domestic tourist destinations in the country.

“The Department of Tourism is delighted with the inclusion of Batanes Islands to the highly regarded UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories. We congratulate the Batanes Tourism Hospitality Monitoring Center and thank them for all their efforts at inspiring local destinations to prioritize sustainability as it greatly benefits Philippine Tourism,” Frasco said.

Last March, Frasco endorsed the application of Batanes Islands as an INSTO member through a letter to the UNWTO chief dated March 31, 2023. This was sent through the help of the Department of Foreign Affairs Embassy of the Philippines in Madrid, Spain. 

Meanwhile, the UNWTO said BTHMC, the research group in charge of monitoring of the tourism sustainability on the islands, will lead the observatory. It will collaborate with the province and its local stakeholders, to deliver its commitment to support the sustainable development of tourism based on evidence and a participatory approach.

The special UN agency welcomed Batanes to its network and said that its commitments “are instrumental in building a sustainable and resilient tourism sector that benefits the local people, the Ivatans, as well as visitors, while ensuring environmental and cultural conservation.” 

“For any destination, measurement is important as it provides a better understanding of where a destination stands and where it wants to go. For a destination like the Batanes Islands, such measurement work is even more relevant as it will help to preserve the uniqueness of the islands and build a responsible sector that benefits the local people and visitors alike,” UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said in a press release. 

“We are very pleased to welcome the Batanes Observatory as a new member of the INSTO network,” he added.

UNWTO INSTO is operating in various nations namely the United States, Spain, Brazil, Greece, Thailand and Indonesia, among others.  The highest number of INSTO observatories are located in China. 

Frasco is hopeful that the Philippines will have more INSTO observatories in the future, citing that “for destinations to thrive until the next generations, sustainability must be at the core of development.” 

“We hope to add more of our destinations to this global network in the future,” she said.