Organizer: Center for Southeast Asian Studies, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Type/Location: Virtual
Description:
Join the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at UH-Manoa for a discussion on sustainable, community-centric tourism in Southeast Asia. Dr. Huong T. Bui, Professor at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, will discuss governance and tourism development in Vietnam. Boboi Costas, Founder of Grassroots Travel and Former Tourism Officer of Cebu Provincial Government, will discuss lessons from a community-based ecotourism project in Cebu, Philippines.
About the 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.
About the 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.
Registration:
To attend the event online, please register here.