UP hosts Philippine Research Conference on Tourism and Hospitality 2025

TACLOBAN CITY — The Philippine Research Conference on Tourism and Hospitality (PRCTH) 2025 concluded successfully at the University of the Philippines Tacloban College on November 14, 2025, bringing together nearly 200 participants to discuss transformative sustainability in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

Held over two days from November 13 to 14, the conference drew academics, researchers, tourism officers, industry practitioners, and students under the theme “Tourism and Hospitality Towards Transformative Sustainability.”

The event was jointly organized by the UP Asian Institute of Tourism (AIT) and the UP Department of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management (DHRIM), in partnership with UP Tacloban College. Key support came from the Provincial Government of Leyte, the Department of Tourism Region 8, and Leyte Normal University.

Attendance figures showed strong engagement throughout the conference, with 188 participants on the opening day and 195 on the second day, representing academic institutions, government agencies, and industry stakeholders from across the Philippines.

International Expertise Takes Center Stage

The conference featured plenary sessions from five distinguished international keynote speakers who shared global perspectives on sustainability and resilience in tourism and hospitality.

Speakers included Dr. Brent Lovelock of the University of Otago, New Zealand; Dr. Honggang Xu of Sun Yat-sen University, China; Dr. Priyanko Guchait of the University of Houston, United States; Dr. Bartolome Deya Tortella of the University of the Balearic Islands, Spain; and Dr. Benjamin Derhy of CY Cergy Paris Université, France.

Dean Shirley Guevarra of the College of Home Economics served as Conference Chair, with Dean Giovanni Legaspi of the Asian Institute of Tourism as Conference Co-Chair.

Advancing Research-Driven Solutions

Through plenary talks, parallel sessions, and panel discussions, PRCTH 2025 demonstrated the critical role of research in developing policies and practices that support sustainable tourism and hospitality development.

The conference reinforced institutional partnerships and highlighted the University of the Philippines’ ongoing commitment to advancing research that addresses global challenges while supporting national development goals.

The two-day event provided a dynamic platform for research collaboration and innovation, setting the stage for continued dialogue on transformative sustainability in the tourism and hospitality industries.