DoT-Davao bats for use of locally made toiletries in hotels, resorts

DEPARTMENT OF Tourism-Davao (DOT-12) Regional Director Tanya R. Tan is pushing for the use of locally-made toiletries and other products, particularly those from the communities, in the region’s hotels and resorts. “We are working with the different tourism officers of different provinces on how we can work together and connecting the different tourism establishments to the local communities who are into crafts, production of toiletries, because when we support local that is another sustainable practice,” Ms. Tan said in an interview during the recent opening of the Flavors of Mindanao event. She added that they aim to link up with the Department of Trade and Industry to bring together the small producers and the tourism establishments. “If you want to live true to our vision and mission that is inclusive growth, so help our local communities,” said Ms. Tan, noting that the DoT is geared towards sustainable and quality tourism. “We are really preparing for long term because we are here to stay. We also want to focus on quality tourism and its not about the numbers and we’ve seen it. We did it in Boracay,” she said. DoT-11 is preparing to hold a series of workshop on sustainability for the tourism sector. — Maya M. Padillo