Puerto Princesa City’s Urban Heritage Tourism Team was recently awarded the ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award for 2020-2022. They were the sole Philippine winner of the prestigious award which recognized the group’s exceptional city heritage tour that highlighted Puerto Princesa’s rich history and culture and supported the province’s local communities.
The team is composed of Puerto Pension Inn, Trio Queen Travel and Tours, Palawan Agricultural & Ecological Tourism Development Corp., Palawan Special Battalion WWII-Memorial Museum, Palawan Heritage Center and KaJoels Restaurant. The group’s main goal is to support local businesses and at the same time explore the historical and cultural side of Palawan.
The award was given last Jan. 16 by the Department of Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2020 in Brunei Darussalam.
“It was a group effort by the Urban Heritage Team to come up with a unique educational and cultural tour that gives tourists a glimpse of the different side of Palawan. The urban heritage tour covers historical museums like the Palawan Special Battalion WWII-Memorial Museum and Palawan Heritage Center. It also allows them to see nature up close and witness the lifestyle and tradition of the Palaw’an tribe via the Palawan Agricultural & Ecological Tourism Development Corp. who runs the Palawan Butterfly Eco-Garden and Tribal Village. Then tourists can enjoy a unique dining experience at the KaJoels Restaurant after which they can enjoy the rest of their stay at Puerto Pension Inn which features vibrant indigenous design elements that pay homage to the Palawan’s rich culture. All of these can be arranged via our partner agency, Trio Queen Travel and Tours,” said Butch Tan, Puerto Pension Inn CEO who received the award on behalf of the Urban Heritage team. (PR)