THE Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas, in partnership with the Negros Occidental Tourism Division, conducted a gender sensitivity orientation at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City Wednesday, June 27.
The one-day activity was participated by 55 representatives of local government units (LGUs) and other tourism stakeholders in the province.
It is aimed at increasing the awareness of tourism frontline service providers on gender concerns and how to respond to gender-related issues.
Serving as resource speaker was Dr. Mary Barby Badayos-Jover, a researcher and advocate on gender concerns as well as gender and development mainstreaming.
Badayos-Jover has also served as gender expert in international workshops like the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.
Cristine Mansinares, provincial supervising tourism operations officer, said gender sensitivity encompasses the ability to acknowledge gender differences and inequalities.
Mansinares said for tourism frontliners, the orientation served as an instrument to assess how gender shapes the roles of men and women in today's society.
"It was designed to open up communications to bring mutual understanding and respect for each other's roles," she added.
The orientation was part of the DOT's activities for the Gender and Development (GAD) program.