By Paulene Paglumotan

The Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), through the College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy – Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management (CBEA-DTHM), hosted an international webinar via its official Facebook page in celebration of World Tourism Day on September 26.

Anchored on the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” the activity aimed to promote awareness of tourism’s contributions to cultural preservation, environmental protection, social inclusivity, and economic resilience.

Resource speakers from the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand shared insights with tourism and hospitality students on promoting sustainable development and driving global transformation in the tourism industry.
The speakers were Assoc. Prof. Christopher Wan Sageng on Preserving Culinary Heritage Through Sustainable Tourism: A Pathway Toward Cultural Resilience and a Sustainable Future; Dr. Kanjana Sommit on Community Participation and Inclusive Tourism; Mr. Ryan Sebastian on Tourism, Sustainability, and the Role of Every Filipino; and Mx. Aian Raquel on Designing for the Experience Economy: From Concept to Market.

This initiative reaffirms the commitment of MMSU-CBEA-DTHM to promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to shaping a tourism industry that is sustainable, inclusive, and transformative.

World Tourism Day is an annual event established by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to cultivate the social, economic, cultural, and political values of tourism and its contribution to sustainable development.