25 Feb 2016

Hotel Resilient kicks off the standard module development process in the Philippines

by GIDRM

On February 23rd, GIDRM, UNISDR, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DoT) have invited hotels and resorts, hotel and tourism associations, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (PDRRMO) of Bohol and Cebu and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to the Hotel Resilient Kick-off Workshop in Cebu City.

The Hotel Resilient Initiative has been launched in 2013 to improve disaster risk management and to strengthen resilience in the tourism sector. Within the framework of the Initiative, GIDRM has partnered with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and its consortium members (Bournemouth University, University of Queensland, Griffith University, risklayer and Two Eco Inc.) to develop a Multi-hazard Risk Management Standard Module for hotels and resorts.

At the Kick-off Workshop the development process and draft frame of the Multi-hazard Risk Management Standard Module was first introduced and discussed with governmental authorities and business leaders. It was also the first time for the Hotel Resilient Expert Group to come together. Its members represent the private and public sector and have longstanding experience in tourism particularly looking at the links to disaster risk management. Expert Group member Ms. Rica Bueno, the Director of the Office of Tourism Standards and Regulations at the Department of Tourism in the Philippines, emphasised the timeliness of the Hotel Resilient Initiative and its relevance particularly for the Philippines. Deputy Minister Fathimath Thasneem of the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) in the Maldives, who has also joined the Expert Group, called for “bold ideas” and “robust action” at the workshop in order to protect private and public investments in the tourism industry. Mr. Handloegten, Head of the Management Unit of GIDRM emphasised the importance of involving the private sector and offering marketable solutions on disaster risk management.

Following the workshop, a team of representatives of GIDRM and the KIT is currently in the Philippines to conduct further interviews and collect data in Bohol, Cebu, and Manila. The team cooperates closely with the project “Promotion of Green Economic Development (ProGED)”, which is implemented by GIZ to actively promote climate change mitigation of businesses in the selected destinations. The finalised Multi-hazard Risk Management Standard Module is planned to be further reviewed during the pilot phase in up to three different destinations in the Asia Pacific region later this year.

Cover photo: © GIZ / Pierre Gatter