The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has reaffirmed its support for sustainable tourism initiatives that protect natural resources, strengthen local communities, and build resilient destinations across Luzon.

DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo, representing Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, expressed the agency’s commitment during the 1st Luzon Sustainable Tourism Summit at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center in Zambales.

Pablo said tourism destinations should be regarded not only as places that attract visitors but also as living ecosystems, cultural heritage sites, and homes of local communities.

“By embracing regenerative ecotourism and harnessing digitalization, we can heal degraded landscapes, strengthen livelihoods, and connect communities to new opportunities,” Pablo said.

He stressed that tourism development should go beyond increasing visitor arrivals and economic activity, emphasizing the need to protect the environment while creating livelihood opportunities for communities dependent on natural resources and tourism.

Pablo identified fisherfolk, Indigenous Peoples, entrepreneurs, and the youth as among those who should remain at the center of sustainable tourism efforts.

The summit, themed “Innovate, Integrate, Inspire: Redesigning Sustainable and Resilient Tourism through Digitalization,” brought together representatives from national government agencies, local government units, tourism enterprises, academic institutions, industry associations, and other stakeholders.

The gathering served as a platform for sharing best practices, strengthening partnerships, and identifying solutions to advance responsible, sustainable, and resilient tourism across Luzon.