TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the region has downloaded a fund to the Department of Tourism (DOT) for the implementation or establishment of a science tourism initiative in Leyte.
The fund, worth P175,000 was turned over by the DOST-8 Regional Director Ernesto Granada and Leyte provincial director John Glenn Ocaña to DOT-8 led by chief tourism operations officer Catherina Apostol.
“The proposed project aims to establish a science tourism industry for a wider appreciation of science, technology, and innovation through tourism,” Apostol said.
She added that the DOT-8 will be spearheading the creation of a science tourism network that will showcase local science and technology-themed tourist destinations.
Among the identified science and technology-themed tourist destinations are the Eastern Visayas Science Centrum, in Palo; coffee processing facility in Tongonan, Ormoc City; Baybay sweet potato ice cream facility in Baybay City; the Eastern Visayas food innovation center; the laboratory and technology building of the Philippine Science High School – Eastern Visayas Campus, the Ormoc City Museum, and the Radar dome of Pagasa.
Also included are the outstanding small enterprise technology upgrading program SETUP), GIA, community empowerment thru science and technology, and iSTART projects, and industrial plants like Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp.(Pasar), Energy Development Corporation, SC Global, SPMI, and others.
Visiting this site allows tourists to experience Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) through educational tourism by means of visual and experiential learning by letting them learn it on hand.
As part of the preparation, a visit to the identified sites will be conducted by the DOT to conduct a workshop on how to develop a tourism product or package which eventually will be used to conceptualize a tour program.
Visits to the sites will start either in September or October.
“This project will generally promote science and technology, and increase the number of tourists, particularly in the province of Leyte, boost the engagement of local tourism stakeholders and enterprises, further promote science and technology as a career path of students,” DOST Director Granada said.
He also expressed his gratitude to the tourism department for collaborating with their office that will become an avenue for innovation, learning, and exploration that will not only contribute to inclusive and sustainable development but will also benefit the environment through conservation and protection, and human resources of the region.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
