TOURISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE:

A Development PerspectiveReed Aeschliman

USAID/Philippines Acting Mission DirectorUNWTO-ASEAN Conference on Tourism & Climate Change

May 19, 2014, Legazpi City

Philippines’ Biodiversity

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Tourism in the Philippine Economy

Tourism has strong potential in reducing poverty

Employmentin million Filipinos

19%Tourism’s share in total employment (2016)

in billion pesosTourism Receipts

Tourism is affected by climate change

It also contributes to climate change & environmental

degradation

Tourism-Environment Relationship

Threats of climate change

• Philippines is ranked 3rd in the world as most at risk to climate change

• It is ranked as the highest in terms of vulnerability to tropical cyclones – we get an average of 20 typhoons annually

• Estimated sea level rise between 29 to 98 centimeters by the end of the century

• Increase in temperature, rainfall, and extreme weather events

Tourism helps intensify climate change & environmental decline

• Tourism sector accounts for 5% of man-made CO2 emissions –aviation, car transport, hotels, tourist activities

• Unsustainable tourist activities and practices cause stresses to the natural environment

“A Partnership for Growth”

• A whole-of-government approach for broad-based, inclusive economic growth

• Philippines is one of four countries around the world to have a PFG with the U.S. Other countries include Tanzania, Ghana, and El Salvador.

• One of PFG’s signature objectives is to unlock new sources of investment, including domestic resources and foreign direct investment.

On November 16, 2011, the Philippines and the United States signed a Partnership for Growth

(PFG) Joint Statement of Principles

Cities as engines of growth

The PFG Cities Development Initiative (CDI) assists the Philippines in promoting inclusive growth by providing a range of development interventions in “second tier cities” outside Metro Manila.

Batangas Port

Iloilo Airport

Cagayan de Oro-Laguindingan Airport

USAID development initiatives in support of tourism

• Reduce poverty through enterprise development and profit sharing;

• Provide training to promote higher education and economic opportunity;

• Advance gender equality by involving women in tourism activities

USAID focuses on promoting sustainable tourism

Tourists visiting a marine protected area in the DominicanRepublicJerry Bauer, USFS

The Suruí indigenous people use technology to protect theirterritory from deforestation and receive support fromUSAID/Brazil to recuperate the Amazon forest

Local community members regularly check and replace markerbuoys delimiting a marine sanctuary in the Philippines, which hasincreased the catch of local fishermen while conserving biodiversity.[photo by: Vincent Lumbab]

Philippines fisherman: Many of USAID’s biodiversity programs work torestore and protect marine and coastal ecosystems while also providingsustainable harvests of fish to local communities.Sean Killian/Chemonics International

USAID’s support in the Philippines

• Two-pronged approach under economic and environment portfolios

• USAID’s Advancing Philippine Competitiveness (COMPETE) Project supports tourism development through the implementation of the National Tourism Development Plan

• A host of other environment projects support ecotourism as a means to achieve biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic growth

Success Stories

• Olango Bird Sanctuary in Cebu

• Partnership with WWF-Philippines in conservation of whale sharks or “Butanding”

• Bohol Tourism Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan

Success Stories

Volunteers in Environmental Governance (VEG)

• Training on coastal resource management

• Livelihood• Community building

Success StoriesCoral Triangle Support

Project (CTSP)

• Promoted community participation

• Encouraged private sector involvement

• Addressed challenges in fisheries management, live reef fish trade and climate change

USAID’s support in the Philippines

Improve conservation of key biodiversity areas

Improve water security

Promote the low emissions development in our cities and

communities

Increase capacity of local communities to adapt to

climate change & reduce and manage disaster risks

Improve conservation of key biodiversity areas

Improve water security

Promote the low emissions development in our cities and

communities

Increase capacity of local communities to adapt to

climate change & reduce and manage disaster risks

Solar charging station for electric tricycles in Boracay Island

USAID’s support in the Philippines

USAID’s Commitment

• Strive to develop new tourism and ecotourism hubs that will showcase creative business models and technologies that tap into the entrepreneurial spirit of local communities, while protecting the very environments that nurture them.

• Develop and offer sustainable models for tourism development that is truly competitive and inclusive, and that balances conservation with development

TOURISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE:

A Development PerspectiveReed Aeschliman

USAID/Philippines Acting Mission DirectorUNWTO-ASEAN Conference on Tourism & Climate Change

May 19, 2014, Legazpi City