The Department of Tourism in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DOT-CAR) expects to see further improvement of tourism villages as it launched the 4th year of the Search for the Best Tourism Village on Wednesday.

Jovi Ganongan, regional director of the DOT-CAR, said in a press conference on the sidelines of the media launch in this city said, “The search encourages villages to opt for sustainability and improve not just the destination but help prepare their fellow villagers for tourists arriving.”

The search is a unique program of the DOT-CAR started during the pandemic.

For the 4th edition this year, at least 68 tourism villages have applied to join the search, which would allow them to obtain technical assistance to adapt to the standards.

Ganongan shared that village leaders who joined the search orientations have started to work on their community’s development to qualify.

“Some did not even know they have tourism values but realized it when they joined the search,” she said.

Ganongan said very evident was the eagerness of the villagers to participate and conform their communities to the criteria that involves cultural, socio-economic and rural economic development, environmental protection and sustainability of the activity.

“This is not just about bringing in tourists but also the community’s development and people’s livelihood and protection of the environment,” she added.

The first place winner will receive PHP1 million; second place, PHP500,000; third place, PHP200,000; and three runners-up will receive PHP100,000 each.

The prices received by the winners every year are used for programs and projects that will further improve the village tourism experience of tourists.

Linda Claire Pawid, chief of the Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Section of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-CAR, said the program helps in their goal of protecting the environment with villages learning the importance of implementing activities toward this end.

She said tourism and environment protection is an important aspect of the DOT-CAR’s search for the best tourism villages.

Pawid said Cordillera has unique villages endowed with natural attractions, thus the abundance of village destinations with stories and cultural significance. (PNA)