
The Suyac Island Mangrove Eco-Park is one of the five community-based tourism groups in the Philippines recognized at the ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, January 21, a press release from Sagay City PIO said.
Suyac Island is one of the two community-based organizations in Western Visayas recognized under the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Category for their “commitment to sustainable tourism,” the Department of Tourism said.
Together with Suyac were Malay Sailing Boat Owners’ Cooperative in Aklan, Pidlisan Village CBT in Sagada, Bila Tourism Village in Mountain Province, and Marang-Marang Women’s Association of Malamawi Island, Basilan, under the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism category.
The award was received by Vice Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva in behalf of Mayor Narciso Javelosa, Jr., Councilor Arthur Christopher Marañon, alongside with City Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Helen Arguelles-Cutillar, and Suyac Island Eco-Tourist Attendants Association President Melanie Mermida.
Vice Mayor Cueva, who first started the program on the island, said that the international recognition is a testament of decades-long initiatives of the city government that poised Suyac as a model for sustainable tourism not just in the province but also in the country.
Cueva added that the city government is also thankful to our partner organizations and institutions like DOT-Western Visayas and DOT central office.
The ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards aims to recognize outstanding contributions from ASEAN member states to sustainable, inclusive, and quality tourism development and is part of the major activities of the ASEAN Tourism Forum.
DOT added that by adhering to ASEAN’s rigorous criteria for sustainability, cultural preservation, and service excellence, the awards foster collaboration and unity in advancing the region’s tourism industry.”*