The Department of Tourism (DOT) will be conducting a regional tourism crisis management symposium next week, August 28, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Grand Xing Imperial Hotel in Iloilo City.

The event seeks to identify risk factors that could lead to crisis for the local tourism industry; such causes include political turmoil, economic instability, social disturbance, technological attacks, and environmental hazards.

Through the symposium, the department will look to identify responsibilities, review existing policies and ensuring implementation of rules and regulations, enhance safety measures, among other objectives.

Last month, amid the closure of resort destination Boracay, DOT-Region VI (DOT-6) affirmed their focus on sustainable tourism.

“DOT believes, in order to make tourism more sustainable, we have to protect the environment,” explained DOT-6 director, Atty. Helen J. Catalbas. “We are really working hard, so it will not come to the point that we should close the tourist destination, just like what happened to Boracay.”/WDJ