Asst Prof Abueg (L) with DOT PH Sec Garcia-Frasco (R). Photo by JM Caraig of the DLSU PH. Official photo from the Department of Tourism FB page.

The Andrew L. Tan Center for Tourism of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), together with the De La Salle University Publishing House (DLSU PH) launched the volume entitled “People, Planet, Profit: Principles and Practices of Sustainable Tourism,” on March 17, 2023. The event was graced by the book editors from AIM, the reviewers and book chapter contributors, the executive publisher, and the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT PH) Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco. The book includes a chapter on macroeconomics of tourism in Southeast Asia, which is authored by Asst. Prof. Luisito C. Abueg of the Department of Economics.

The book was essentially a discourse on sustainable tourism, which was initially conceptualized in 2018. The pandemic hampered the publication process; nevertheless, the book was completed and was updated to reflect the experiences and lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition to this volume, Asst. Prof. Abueg also contributed in an international volume that emphasized on the recovery and sustainability paths post-pandemic. Entitled “The Emerald handbook of Destination Recovery in Tourism and Hospitality” published by Emerald Publishing Ltd in United Kingdom, Asst. Prof. Abueg with lead co-author Dr Iris Acejo of Cardiff University discussed how the Philippine seafarers working in cruise tourism industry could recover from the pandemic. The book chapter emphasized the crucial role of the state in such path to recovery and long term sustainable development.

The handbook volume covers not only the experience of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries as to how the tourism sector would recover but also identify sustainable models in light of the “new normal”. It also showcased experiences across various components of the tourism sector in the global economy, which the Philippines may also benefit from learning, especially with regard to the best practices across the world.