A PROFESSOR from the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management of the University of Santo Tomas won the Best Research Presenter award at the 1st International Tourism Educators Convention and Research Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Associate Professor Atty. Gezzez Giezi Granado, PhD, also the dean of the CTHM, presented the research “The Value and Significance of Local Ordinances in Sustainable Community-based Tourism – The Case of Barangay San Miguel, Echague, Isabela, Philippines.”

The research aims to understand how laws and ordinances contribute to Sustainable Tourism in Barangay San Miguel, Echague, Isabela.

It was co-authored by CTHM academic staff Jame Monre Mercado, Avi Ben Andalecio, Fhamela Sarmiento, Asst. Prof. Maria Concepcion Ang and Associate Prof. Dr. Evangeline Timban.

The UST academic staff also presented the studies on “Explicating the Contributions of the Local Community on Sustainable Community-based Tourism – The Case of Barangay San Miguel, Echague, Isabela, Philippines”; and “Behind the Community Lenses: Community-based Tourism Potentials of Barangay San Miguel, Echague, Isabela using the Extended Parameters of Sustainable Tourism Development.”

The research was part of the approved project funded by the Department of Science and Technology-National Research Council of the Philippines under the Policy Funded Research Award 2021 in cooperation with the Office of Rep. Faustino “Inno” Dy V of the 6th district of Isabela and the municipal government of Echague.

The event in Bangkok, Thailand was organized by the Union of Filipino Tourism Educators, Inc.