Mayor Eva Medina speaks on “Nurturing Cultural Heritage Tourism” forum

Vigan City Mayor Eva Marie S. Medina speaks before a forum organized by the Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center for Tourism of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in partnership with Fundación Santiago entitled “Nurturing Cultural Heritage Tourism in the Philippines” held at the G/F Meralco Caseroom, Eugenio Lopez Building, AIM on May 27, 2014. Participants from the government, private sector, academe and from the travel and tourism industry attended the forum. Mayor Medina presented the “Vigan Heritage Conservation” – A Tool for Development where it was well applauded by the attendees. In her presentation she said that the local government of Vigan was able to capitalize on its rich history and culture, including architectural structures and heritage sites, to bolster the city’s economy. Through heritage tourism, Vigan was able to evolve from a 2nd class municipality with a budget of PhP 27 million in 1995 to a 4th class city with a funding of PhP 329 million in 2013. One participant said that Vigan used heritage conservation to attract tourists, increase their income and respond to its people’s needs. Other speakers of the forum. who are experts in the realm of cultural heritage tourism include Ms. Len Cabili, Founder of Filip + Inna and Mr. Chaco Molina, Executive Director of Fundacion Santiago. Other topics of the forum focused on how heritage tourism generates jobs, creates new business opportunities and strengthens local economies. It also provided an understanding on how heritage tourism preserves the nation’s historic,natural and cultural treasures and how it improves the quality of life for the community.//jo-anne