El Nido Resorts bags community development prize at Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

With its lush greenery and romantic lagoons, Palawan is a popular destination for nature lovers. Preserving its natural beauty is a must for the luxurious El Nido Resorts, which was recognized this month for its efforts in community building and sustainable tourism.

 

The World Travel and Tourism Council named Ten Knots Development Corporation/El Nido Resorts as its Community Benefit Award winner in its 2013 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. 

 

El Nido Resorts was cited for playing a vital role in community development, as 90 percent of its staff are from the local area.

 

"It has always believed in partnership with local communities, demonstrating the power of tourism to address poverty alleviation, improve local livelihoods and protect cultural and natural heritage for future generations," said WTTC, which noted that the corporation actively supports staff development as well as the creation of community enterprises. 

 

"Examples include micro-finance support to employees who now own and manage recycling facilities, provide boat transfers and excursions and produce a diversity of fresh, local farm products, among other businesses," WTTC said.

 

The resort educates both its employees and its guests. "El Nido Resorts also purposefully educates guests on how their vacation can be good for the planet and local people," WTTC said. 

 

Employees take a BeGREEN course that promotes environmental best practices, while guests must comply with an "environmental code of conduct" in every room. Throughout the resort, environment-friendly policies are in place. Guides accompany guests to prevent damage to the area’s natural riches, and motorized marine equipment such as jet skis are not allowed. 

 

Held during the WTTC 13th Global Summit from April 9 to 10, the awards recognize best practices in sustainable tourism within the Travel & Tourism industry worldwide.

 

"It is indeed a great leap not only for Philippine tourism in the global scene, but also we are stating that the Philippines is becoming more of a sustainable tourism destination," said Brian King Ong, Marketing Assistant of El Nido Resorts.

 

Apart from the Community Benefit Award, the WTTC awards applicants for Destination Stewardship, Conservation, and Global Tourism Business. 

 

The Peaks of the Balkans – Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, won the Destination Stewardship Award;  South Africas &Beyond won the Conservation Award; and Air New Zealand won the Global Tourism Business Award.

 

According to Ong, El Nido Resorts was the only hotel or resort from the Philippines that made it to the finals out of over 100 applications from more than 40 countries. Last October, the resort was listed among Asia's Top Eco Resorts in Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia's Green Issue 2012. - Carmela G. Lapeña / KDM, GMA News Photos courtesy of El Nido Resorts