ANGARA ENCOURAGES CULTURAL TOURISM

As the summer's vacation season reaches its peak this month, Senator Edgardo J. Angara encourages the public to explore the Philippines' cultural tourism sites instead of going abroad.

"Aside from having some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, our country has a rich cultural heritage, as well as abundant natural resources and rich biodiversity in the ecosystems. This gives us plenty of options for vacation sites that are out of the ordinary," said Angara.

According to the Department of Tourism, recent years have shown increased interest in "cultural tours" set in historical places to trace the footsteps of our forefathers.

"These tours mark important spots in our country's history, and also contribute to the movement to preserve historical and cultural sites that are slowly being destroyed due to neglect," said Angara.

The veteran legislator is the author of the National Cultural Heritage bill which was signed into law in 2010. This law seeks to protect locations that are essential to Philippine history, including buildings, landmarks, monument and shrines.

Moreover, supporting local tourism can boost the nation's economy, says Angara.

"An increase in local tourism would have a positive impact on our economy: we would create jobs especially for those living in rural areas, and would spur the creation and expansion of small business ventures," he explained.