Video creator Nuseir Yassin expressed his awe at efforts undertaken to make tourism more sustainable in the Philippines.
Yassin is known for informative videos on his Facebook page Nas Daily, which features a place he has traveled to in just about a minute.
In the video “How this country fixed tourism,” the Palestinian-Israeli highlighted the harms of “overtourism” and the initiatives that the Philippines has implemented to address this. The video was made in partnership with the Department of Tourism.
How This Country Fixed Tourism!
Wow! I am the biggest fan of tourism. It's the best way to broaden your mind and your soul. However, tourism comes with its own downside. Here is how one country is trying to fix it and promote sustainable tourism! I couldn't have asked for a better week. Thank you so much to everyone in the country who made this possible. You rock! Indeed, It's More Fun in the Philippines!
Posted by Nas Daily on Friday, October 4, 2019
Yassin cited plastic trash, sewage and the destruction of nature as some of the negative effects of tourism, and zoned in on rehabilitation efforts in Boracay, El Nido and Manila Bay.
Boracay was shut down for six months in 2018 for seawater to be cleaned and to upgrade the sewage and drainage systems in the island. Both El Nido in Palawan and Manila Bay have undergone cleanups while establishments violating environmental regulations have been closed down.
He lauded the limit in the number of tourists to Boracay and fewer boats in El Nido to protect corals, as well as Boracay’s switch to more environmentally friendly electric tricycles.
“The Philippines has a long way to to go but they’re trying and we tourists also need to try to take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints and kill nothing but time,” he said.
Nas Daily has featured traveling around the Philippines in videos since 2017. One video last July 2018 called the Philippines “The Most Lovable Country.” /ra
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