Cagayan Valley Showcases Tourism Strengths at Inaugural R2 Synergy Summit in Nueva Vizcaya
The highly anticipated R2 Synergy Summit of the Department of Tourism, Region 2 commenced today, October 27,2024, at the Governor Carlos Padilla Convention Center in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. The event brought together key stakeholders from the tourism industry across the Cagayan Valley region to engage in discussions and knowledge sharing focused on sustainable tourism and community development.
The summit opened with a Regional Tourism Forum, featuring esteemed speakers who addressed pressing issues and future directions for the tourism industry. Dr. John Paolo Rivera, Senior Research Fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, presented on Sustainable Tourism Enterprise Development, highlighting tourism’s role in fostering peace and driving economic growth.
Another critical discussion was led by Chief Ramil Basuel, who tackled the theme of Empowering Local Communities in Tourism Development, presenting challenges faced by communities and proposing solutions for inclusive and sustainable growth in local tourism.
The forum also examined the brand identity and image of the Cagayan Valley region, with presentations from Ms. Marsha Roscal and Ms.Jamia Sanico, assessing how the regional tourism brand can be strengthened to boost its appeal. This was followed by a presentation on the inclusion of Batanes Islands in the UNWTO Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories by Professor Mary Anne Ramos-Tumanan, PhD, from the University of the Philippines-Diliman, which highlighted the global recognition of the islands as a model for sustainable tourism.
Senior Tourism Operations Officer Romeo Caranguian Jr. also shared notable accomplishments in the tourism sector, showcasing the progress and successes of various initiatives that have enhanced the region’s tourism landscape and bolstered local economies.
The summit was officially opened by Regional Director Troy Alexander Miano of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 2, alongside Assistant Regional Director Lelia Blancaflor, Ms. Ruth Padilla, Chairperson of the Cagayan Valley Region Tourism Council (CVRTC) and DTI Provincial Director Attorney Michael Paggabao.