GATN Program Managers Training 2013

Last Updated (Friday, 29 March 2013 13:59)

GATN Program Managers Training
Pangasinan, Philippines
17 – 22, April 2013

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

Alternative Tourism is a process, which promotes a fair share or just form of traveling activities between members of different communities, in order to achieve mutual understanding, solidarity and equality. It is a form of tourism that has minimum negative impacts on the physical and sociocultural environment in destination areas and the local community is substantially benefitted from the tourism program.

Soon after the hosting the YMCA International Forum on Alternative Tourism in Cambodia in November, 2011, the APAY GATN Task Force actively got engaged in promoting the GATN amongst our YMCAs in our region. A planning workshop of APAY GATN was held during August 31st – September 2nd, 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. The GATN Plan of Action for the next three years was finalized at the workshop. It was decided to develop and certify a total of 50 alternative tourism sites in the next three years in our region, enhance human resource skills, provide necessary trainings to the Managers who are managing the alternative tourism sites.During the year 2012, a total of 10 Alternative Tourism Site based on CHANGE principles were formed in various parts of our region. These Alternative Tourism sites comprise educational tours, cultural and nature tours, pilgrimage tours and embrace civil movement for building global solidarity and volunteerism. Our endeavor continues for establishing more alternative tourism sites in the YMCAs of our region. All these sites are now hosted in our new website www.ymcatourism.org

As a follow up of the GATN 3 Years Strategic Plan, the first Training Workshop for the Alternative Tourism Sites’Program Managers shall be held during 17 – 22, April 2013 at Pangasinan, Philippines. (inclusive of days of arrival and departure in Manila). The YMCA of Philippines and the YMCA of Pangasinan, Philippines are the co-host of the training program.

Objectives

The main objective of the Training Program is to make the participants:

(i) To make them aware about the state of tourism in the world today, how is it creating negative impact in our communities, environment and indigenous culture and heritage.

(ii) Introduce Alternative Tourism to them as analternative response to reduce the negative impact of mass tourism.

(iii) Equip them with skills of conducting tourism which impacts positively the lifestyle of the local communities, preserve the environment and ecology and uphold local culture and heritage. Promote mutual understanding, solidarity and equality among the stake holders of tourism.

(iv) Learn marketing strategies for the promotion of Alternative Tourism.

(v) Learn about the intricacies of Climate Change Advocacy in relation to tourism industry.

(vi) Get acquaintance with the APAY GATN Manual, which deals with the Code of Conduct for Travelers, Hosting YMCAs, Sending YMCAs and the Certification Procedures of the alternative tourism sites.

Resource Persons with expertise and international repute in Alternative Tourism shall be involved in conducting the Training Sessions.

The venue of the Training Program shall be in Pagasinan, Philippines. This is one of our ideal alternative tourism sites, hosted by Pangasinan YMCA. The reason for hosting his venue is that our participants get on-site training, how to conduct tour programs adhering to the APAY principles and code of Alternative Tourism.

Pangasinan is about 5 hour’s bus ride from Manila. All participants are expected to arrive in Manila by the afternoon of Wednesday, 17th of April. Arrangements shall be made for their pick up from Manila Airport, stay overnight at the Hotel in Manila and all participants move towards Pangasinan together by bus in the early morning of Thursday, 18th of April 2103. Similarly, at the end of the training program in Pangasinan, all participants shall travel together by bus to Manila on the night of 21st of April, stay at the YMCA Hotel in Manila for the night and depart for their own destination the following day.

Participants

Hosting Countries :The primary participants of Training Program shall be the Program Managers of our existing alternative tourism sites hosted, they are Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh. The YMCAs who are interested to host alternative tourism sites in the coming days, such as Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, East Timor & Vietnam can also send their potential staff, who shall be entrusted to operative the alternative tour programs in their respective YMCAs.

Sending Countries: Countries with potentialities of sending visitors to the alternative tourism sites like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore are also encouraged to participate at the training workshop by sending their staff to the training. Staff involved in members and youth exchange, overseas study tours, international development are encouraged to participate at the program.

Cost of Participation

The Participation Fee is US$ 200, the Registration Cost is US$ 65 including the Green Fee. Registration Fee is mandatory for all participants. Limited Travel and Participation Subsidies are available for YMCAs with financial constraints.Requests for subsidies should reach the office before 31st March 2013.The last date of registration is on 31st March, 2013.

The participants are expected to arrive in Manila on 17th of April, the cost include two nights hotel stay in Manila (17 & 21 April), cost of travelling from Manila to Pangasinan, accommodation and food cost from 18th to 21stApril in Pangasinan and cost of exposure program.

Weather

The temperature in Manila and Pangasinan is around 26 to 32 degrees Celsius and often rainy and humid.

Contact person in Manila, Philippines :

Ms. MaricelTaguba
TheYMCA of Philippines
2nd Floor, Hotel Indah Manila,
YMCA Philippines Building,
350 A. Villegas Street,
Ermita, Manila 1000
Telephone: (02) 528-0557   Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Address of the hotel in Manila for night staying on 17th and 21st April, 2013 :
Hotel Indah Manila
350 A J Villegas Street
Ermita, Manila
Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone Number: +63 (2) 536 1188 / 536 2288
Fax Number: +63 (2) 536 5973
Email Address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Contact person in Pangasinan:

Mr. Juanito "Jimmy" C. Bacani, Jr.
General Secretary
YMCA of Pangasinan, Inc.
Tap[uac District, Dagupan City
2400 Philippines
Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Contact Numbers:Landlines: (075) 696-1491 / 522-3494 / 515-4856
Cellphone: +63917-871-8039 / +63920-905-8639 / +63922-804-4482

And

Mr. Marvin F. Tapiador
Program Secretary
YMCA of Pangasinan, Inc.
Cellphone: +63907-718-6200

 

The Training Venue at Pangasinan:

Star Plaza Hotel,
A.B. Fernandez Avenue,
2400 Dagupan
Pangasinan
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.starplazadagupan.com
Phone : (075) 5152276, 5234777

 

For matters related to participation, contact :

Duncan Chowdhury
Executive Secretary for Programmes
Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
6/F Administration Building
Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
TEL: (852)-2780 8347, 2770 3168
FAX: (852)-23854692
Skype: duncanchowdhury