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Posted: March 6, 2025

Webinar Announcement: Promoting Community-Centric Tourism Economy in Southeast Asia

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April 2, 2025 3:00 – 4:30 PM HST / April 3, 2025 8:00 – 9:30 AM ICT, 9:00 – 10:30 AM PST, 10:00 – 11:30 AM JST / Register on Zoom

Join Us for an Engaging Discussion on Sustainable, Community-Centric Tourism in Southeast Asia

We invite you to our upcoming webinar, Promoting Community-Centric Tourism Economy in Southeast Asia, as part of the LuceSEA Spring 2025 series.

Tourism has long been a key driver of economic growth in Southeast Asia, but how can we ensure that this growth benefits local communities rather than displacing them? This webinar will bring together leading experts in tourism governance, community-based tourism, and economic development to explore ways to create a more equitable and sustainable tourism economy.

What to Expect

  • Real-world case studies on community-driven tourism initiatives in Southeast Asia.
  • Strategies for sustainable economic development in Southeast Asia.
  • Interactive discussion with scholars and practitioners in tourism and economic development.

Featured Speakers

  • Dr. Huong T. Bui (Professor, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan)
  • Topic: Governance and Development of Tourism in Vietnam – A View from Within
  • Dr. Bui is a professor at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) specializing in tourism governance, cultural heritage, and sustainable tourism in emerging economies. She holds a PhD in Tourism Management from Griffith University, Australia, and master’s degrees from Waseda University and Griffith University. Her research focuses on community engagement, war-related tourism, and cultural heritage governance in Southeast Asia and Japan. She also serves as a consultant for the OECD, advising on tourism policy in emerging Asia.
  • Mr. Boboi Costas (Founder, Grassroots Travel / Former Tourism Officer, Cebu Provincial Government, Philippines)
  • Topic: From Fishers to Birders: Lessons from a Community-Based Ecotourism Project in Cebu, Philippines
  • Mr. Costas is a community-based tourism and ecotourism specialist with 30+ years of experience in sustainable tourism and conservation. As Founder of Grassroots Travel Consulting, he has worked with governments, businesses, and rural communities to develop award-winning ecotourism projects, including the Aloguinsan River Eco-cultural Tour in Cebu, which won multiple global awards. A former Cebu Provincial Tourism Officer (2016-2019), he is a Board Member of the Asian Ecotourism Network and a UN consultant on sustainable tourism.

Moderator

Dr. Xiaodan Mao-Clark (Assistant Professor, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, School of Travel Industry Management)

Dr. Mao-Clark’s research focuses on sustainability, hospitality finance, and economic development in tourism. With over 15 years of experience in investment banking and academia, she brings valuable insights into economic strategies that support community-driven tourism.

How to Join

Register now to secure your spot: https://go.hawaii.edu/8V3

Organized by
Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa