The GATN Program Managers Training Workshop

Attention: open in a new window. Print

Last Updated (Wednesday, 06 August 2014 16:32)

 

The GATN Program Managers Training Workshop was successfully held during 17-21 April 2013 at Pagasinan YMCA in Dagupan City in Philippines.Fifteen Program Managers of the YMCAs of our region who were offering alternative tourism programs in their respective YMCAs and those who are planning to host such alternative tourism programs participated at the Training Workshop.

 

The Training Workshop was inaugurated by Mr. Kohei Yamada, General Secretary of APAY in the kind presence of Mr. Felix Eliral R. Refuerzo, National President, YMCA of Philippines.Earlier the participants were accorded a welcome dinner hosted the YMCA of Philippines in Manila.

 

Mr. Ranjan Solomon, former Director of ECOT and Ms. Sabine Minninger, Senior Policy Advisor for Climate & Energy, Bread for the World- Protestant Development Service, together with Mr. Duncan Chowdhury, Mr. Chan BengSeng conducted the Training Workshop.

 

The sessions dealt at the workshop, included the rationale of Alternative Tourism, the involvement of the YMCA in Alternative Tourism, the necessity and procedures of certification of Alternative Tourism sites, the code of conduct of the hosting YMCAs, the sending YMCAs and the visitors, and the nitty-gritties of operating alternative tourism programs.The participants had the opportunity to learn more about the relationship between Climate Change andTourism and the global initiatives on Climate Change Advocacy.

 

One of the interesting parts of the program was the day-long exposure trip, through which the participants had the opportunity to have a glimpse of what Pangasinan YMCA was offering in their Alternative Tourism Program. The rich cultural traditions, the tantalizing local cuisines, visit to salt farms and a rendezvous at aserene, natural and beautiful small island with snorkeling experiences made the trip worthwhile.

 

It was felt that more of such similar training workshops need to be organized at national and regional levels in order forour local YMCAs to effectively respond to the negative impacts of mass tourism with alternative tourism programs that are Community centered, Holistic in approach, Advocating global citizenship and networking, Nature conserving, Gender and child sensitive, and Economically viable.

 

The APAY gratefully acknowledges the painstaking endeavors of Pangasinan YMCA and the YMCA of Philippines for hosting this Training Program.