case study on sustainable tourism in philippines

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Promoting Ecotourism: A Case Study on Sagada, Philippines

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Ramon B A Alampay

The Philippines, through tourism, aspires to become a stronger player in the integrated travel industry of today. Yet, the country realizes that in order to do so, it must conserve, protect and strengthen the cultural, historical and natural resources upon which the Philippines draws its unique competitive advantages. All these in a manner that can be sustained for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations of Filipinos. This book, a collection of research papers funded by the Philippine APEC Study Center Network (PASCN), reflects the scope and complexity of sustainable tourism development. The various papers also mirror the complexity of sustainable tourism development and hint at the multidisciplinary approach that this mode of tourism needs to succeed. Each paper applies a different disciplinary framework to its particular tourism problem: economics, sociology, anthropology, environmental science, management science, human resources development, and others. Each paper also provides a unique academic angle on sustainability and tourism.

www.cdrj.ssu.edu.ph

Ronald Orale

Samar is the third largest island in the Philippines blessed with worldclass, less known ecotourism destination like highly diverse forest/reefs, gigantic caves, waterfalls, beaches, etc. Tourist arrival share attributed mostly to the private sector remains very low because of poor intervention especially from the local government. Private-led initiatives to promote Samar’s world-class sites are relatively successful, bringing in tourists from all over the world. Samar’s ecotourism sites are rated by these tourists higher in terms of panoramic appeal but poor in terms of accessibility; support structure, services and facilities compared to the more known and government-supported destinations in the Philippines. Samar Island towns are one of the poorest in the Philippines. Increasing tourist arrival through improved government intervention will result into a better economic activity which will potentially reduce the poverty level in the three provinces of Samar.

Rowena Abat - Parducho

The 7,107 islands of the Philippines make it one of the most frequently visited places by tourists in Asia and the Pacific. This paper attempted to review existing literatures on how ecotourism serves as a strategy for nation building, as well as establish the need for more conscious efforts to make its contributions sustainable.

Mary Jean Abello-Camarin

Tourism is said to be a fragmented industry or group of industries, composed primarily of competing businesses which have no collective strategy, leading to a complex and fragmented area for development of government policy (Noel Scott, 2012). Such nature of tourism requires a more focused regional tourism planning approach that significantly responds to sustainable tourism products (Buhalis and Costa, 2006). This study delved into the crafting of a tourism development framework for Caraga Region as a planning approach to ensure sustainability of its predominantly nature-based tourism assets. The five Provincial Local Governments of Caraga were rated through a survey on the implementation level of tourism-related initiatives. Results revealed that the tourism-related initiatives’ implementation has bearing to the tourist arrivals of the provinces from 2010-2014. The problems encountered in the implementation of the initiatives were rooted on balancing market-led and supply-led development approaches that will both deliver satisfying tourist’s experience and preserve the integrity of tourism resources. Tourism therefore must not be done in isolation (United Nations World Tourism Organization, 2011) to achieve this. Patterned to the integrative tourism development model of Getz, the study concluded that Caraga Region’s tourism development framework must be anchored on responsible governance, infrastructure development, green tourism product development, human resource development and peace and security. Key Words: Caraga Region tourism development framework, tourism development, tourism

ziyad zarkasi

Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research

Jazztin Jairum Manalo

Sustainable tourism has been considered by many local governments as part of their initiatives for economic upliftment. It is one of the major sources of income through the use of their tourist attraction without compromising the natural resources situated within. The enactment and effective implementation of the local government’s policy have achieved a promising efficient outcome for sustainable tourism.. The city of Puerto Princesa had a long history considering its transformation from an environmentally degraded city into one of the major ecotourism sites around the world. Thus, this paper presents the case of Puerto Princesa and its practices as well as economic development by practicing sustainable tourism and effective policy implementation. The City Ordinance No. 163-91 and 640 has improved the lives of the communities by practicing cleanliness and effective waste management their surrounding and tourist destinations. Economic development and benefits from sustainable tourism reflects the city of Puerto Princesa as a role model for Local Government Units. The passing of City Ordinances on Cleanliness drive have played an important role in effective waste management of the city. The key role of having a strong political will in the local government has strongly maintained its best practices for two decades up to the present.

Jay-r B Cabayan Jr.

Gessa Mae Abriol

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Case Study: Historic Town Of Vigan (Philippines)

• Toolkit About the Sustainable Tourism Toolkit How to use this guide? Our Objective Resource Library
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Baseline situation

Vigan is an exceptionally intact and well-preserved example of a European trading town in East and South-East Asia. The architecture of the city reflects its historic roots and rich culture in both materials and design, fusing Asian building design and construction with European colonial architecture and planning.

However, prior to its inscription to the World Heritage List (1999), the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the site was in serious danger. Only four years before, in 1995, there was a legacy of political instability, private armies and political violence, out-migration of businesses, and decay of the historic district. Traditional industries were also in decline, the public market was destroyed by fire, and there were barely enough resources to pay the salaries of public officials.

What did they do?

Local government and stakeholders developed a clear vision and action plan based on their application for World Heritage status and conservation as a tool for development. The plan had four key objectives.

Strategic priorities

• Strengthen the sense of identity and pride of the citizens in their historic city – grow their confidence and knowledge.
• Embed the approach into long-term policy and management of the city – so short-term political changes do not disrupt the momentum.
• Forge local and international linkages – learning from other historic cities and securing support for progressive changes from the Spanish government for the master planning process, as well as working with local universities to tap into extra resources and research capacity. These partnerships help deliver where resources are limited.
• Develop Vigan as a tourism destination that enriches and conserves the people’s core values and traditions, as well as sustaining their livelihoods.

What worked?

The city invested in a programme of research and education across the city . This focused on the city’s history, traditions, arts, culture, and industries through brochures, e-books, films, newsletters, coffee table books, postage stamps, children’s textbooks about the city, a website for local people and visitors, and support for community organizations. Residents and property owners were given conservation guidelines (in a manual published every year) that set out the appropriate uses of ancestral houses and other built structures. Street signs in the historic quarter are now made from local clay, enhancing the local distinctiveness; properties and the public realm were restored; and administration set aside 1% of budget for arts, culture and tourism investment.

There was a focus on community needs as a priority – this included measures to provide clean water to villages, solid waste systems, focus on health and sanitation, and developing roads to villages so that they could be accessible for tourism and other economic activities. Conservation craftspeople were trained and accredited, traditional industries, such as jar-making and weaving, were also incorporated into the school curriculum.

A cultural mapping analysis study was carried out with the University of Santo Thomas to guide conservation efforts, and also to identify gaps in the offer for tourists. This led to identification of need for new products and experiences such as a river cruise, children’s museum, conservation complex (housing a training centre, conservation laboratory, research library, conservation materials depot, product development centre, and accommodation), and rural theme park to showcase Ilocano culture. The mappings also highlighted the need to find better ways to enable visitors to experience and understand the city’s heritage. The city created six festivals to enhance the visitor experience and benefit local people, and the local government created an environment in which the private sector could thrive and develop a range of other attractions and services.

What was tough?

Measures to protect the historic quarter were not always popular with the property owners of residents – passing of local conservation laws that defined the boundaries of the protected historic areas, specifying the core and buffer zones. A Conservation Council was created to streamline building permits in the historic district – restrictions of how people manage/use properties were initially unpopular.

How did they get buy-in?

It was key to focus on the things people needed most as priorities – better roads, clean water, waste systems, business opportunities, and better education. It was also important to marry the needs of the community (particularly of the poorest members of the community) with developing the infrastructure to enable tourism development. 

What are the results?

• Vigan is now a bustling city with a growing economy.
• Visitor numbers have climbed from 76,000 in 2009 to 335,000 in 2012.
• The poverty rate has fallen from 45.5% in 1995 to 9% in 2013.
• The city finances have recovered and now stand at 292 million Pesos (up from 27 million in 1995).
• Health and education rates have improved markedly.
• The heritage-led regeneration strategy has enabled the city to invest in a range of other facilities for the people of the city, including two new public high schools and one elementary school; a new public market; a slaughterhouse; a new beach resort; internet access for many people across the city; recycling facilities for solid waste, paper and plastic; a TV network for the city; training programmes for more than 5,000 artisans; and a poverty relief programme.
• Conservation challenges remain as a changing and economically thriving city creates tensions about the uses of old properties and spaces – some properties remain in a state of disrepair and increase in traffic creates problems.
• Vigan campaigned for and was reinstated as a city in 2001.
• It was also recognized by UNESCO for Best Practice in World Heritage site management in 2012.

What lessons can others take from this?

Vigan has been transformed through a process of understanding its heritage tourism potential , developing an action plan, and by the delivery of that action plan through good governance that has delivered on people’s everyday needs and aspirations, while also taking seriously the need for robust conservation of the historic fabric.

To learn more, visit Vigan City's official website or the UNESCO World Heritage website for details on their Best Practice recognition .

Understanding tourism at your destination

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Towards Sustainable Tourism Development in the Philippines and Other Asean Countries: An Examination of Programs and Practices of National Tourism Organizations

145  citations

View 1 citation excerpt

Cites background from "Towards Sustainable Tourism Develop..."

... Finally, difficulties in identifying and operationalising a set of meaningful and measureable indicators inhibit progress (Cruz, 2003). ...

23  citations

... In line of this, the Tourism of Canada came up with the definition of sustainable tourism as development that leads to management of all resources to benefit the economic, social and aesthetic needs, while retaining the cultural, ecological and biological integrity (Cruz, 2003). ...

... Cruz (2003) and The International Ecotourism Society (Rubuliak, 2006) define ecotourism simply as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people”. ...

20  citations

View 5 citation excerpts

... The beginnings of the sustainable development paradigm can be traced back to the environmental movement in Europe and North American during the 1960s, and in the Declaration of the United Conference on the Human Environment which contained 26 principles on the preservation of the environment (Cruz, 2003). ...

... 29 socio-cultural patterns of the certain destination; this leads to a failure to successfully implement sustainable development plans (Haas, 2002; Cruz, 2003) ...

... Some authors argue that while tourism enterprises are often aware of the principles of sustainable tourism, they find it hard to accommodate these practices into their daily business (de Haas, 2002; Cruz, 2003). ...

... There has been significant progress in the adoption of sustainable tourism paradigms at national levels; however, the diffusion of this concept to the local level has been quite slow (Cruz, 2003). ...

... Recent studies suggest that we have yet to fully understand the concept of sustainability, and that we also require in-depth information about the tourism industry’s responses towards it (Harrison & Husbands, 1996, cited in Simpson, 2001; Haas, 2003; Treuren & Lane, 2003; Cruz, 2003; Helmy, 2004). ...

17  citations

View 2 citation excerpts

... The unique location has made the Philippines the commercial, cultural and intellectual hub of Asia from the dawn of history (Cruz, 2003). ...

562  citations

356  citations

270  citations

154  citations

152  citations

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"Towards Sustainable Tourism Develop..." refers background in this paper

... The first of such principles states that “Tourism development shall be based on criteria of sustainability, which means that it must be ecologically bearable in the long term, economically viable, as well as ethically and socially equitable for the local communities” (Aronsson, 2000). ...

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Sustainable Tourism in the Philippines: How to be a Responsible Traveler

What is Sustainable Tourism?

15 ways to be a responsible traveler in the philippines, 1. visit ecotourism destinations and attractions in the philippines, 2. stay at eco-friendly hotels and resorts in the philippines, 3. book with dot-accredited local tour operators, 4. leave no trace, 5. bring reusable utensils and refillable bottles, 6. go on cultural immersions, 7. try farm tours, 8. eat at local restaurants, 9. follow proper interaction with wildlife, 10. reduce your carbon footprint with your transport choices, 11. explore nearby destinations, 12. spend more time in destinations, 13. support local when buying souvenirs, 14. use environment-friendly travel products, 15. go digital.

Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan

With over 7,000 islands, the Philippines is home to many natural tourist spots . Stunning islands, spectacular beaches, breathtaking mountains, and rare endemic wildlife are just some of the reasons why you should visit the Philippines . It’s no surprise that the Philippines attracts millions of tourists every year, and while this is great for the country’s economy, it could affect its natural attractions, especially if tourists do not follow responsible travel and sustainable tourism practices. 

In fact, in 2020, it was reported that the Philippines was ranked 94th out of 99 countries when it comes to promoting sustainable tourism. In 2018, the top island Philippine destination called Boracay was closed to the general public for six months for rehabilitation.

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Boracay, one of the most popular Visayas tourist spots , was suffering from deteriorating environmental conditions, partly due to the millions of tourists who visit it every year. These are just some reasons why practicing and promoting sustainable tourism in the Philippines is important.

Through campaigns like Save our Spots , the Department of Tourism has encouraged domestic and foreign tourists to travel responsibly and sustainably. The least we can do as tourists is to follow sustainable practices in the Philippines to help protect our environment. But there’s more to sustainable travel than just following the leave no trace principles.

In this article, we give you more ways you can help conserve the Philippines’ best natural assets on your next vacation in the Philippines .

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El Nido, Palawan

Sustainable tourism is the practice of considering the impact of tourism on the environment, the economy, and society while at the same time taking into account the needs of the tourists, the host communities, and the industry.

Why is sustainable tourism important? If we don’t take care of the natural resources in our tourist spots, it will lead to their deterioration and destruction, and future generations won’t be able to appreciate their beauty, while those from the tourism industry can potentially lose their jobs and source of income.

Being a responsible tourist is just one way to ensure that the best places to visit in the Philippines remain beautiful and open for everyone to enjoy.

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What are the 15 principles of sustainable tourism? There are many ways to be a responsible tourist in the Philippines and here are just some of them:

Basco Lighthouse in Batanes

The Philippines is home to many tourist attractions, and apart from the top tourist spots in the Philippines , there are ecotourism destinations and attractions like Batanes , The Masungi Georeserve in Rizal, Palaui Island in Cagayan, and Apo Island in Negros Oriental. These places and spots not only offer amazing local experiences but also give you the chance to practice responsible tourism as the local communities and stakeholders follow some of the best practices in sustainable tourism.

The people of Batanes, for example, have done a wonderful job of preserving the culture of the Ivatans by keeping their stone houses intact. The locals here also practice sustainable fishing and farming, while the local government prioritizes local culture and investors, which is why instead of 5-star hotels, you’ll mostly find homestays here.

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Photo by El Nido Resorts group

Your choice of accommodations is also another way how to practice sustainable tourism. Staying at some of the best eco-friendly resorts in the Philippines allows you to reduce your carbon footprint when traveling. Eco-friendly hotels follow sustainable practices such as organic farming, tree planting, rainwater recycling, solid waste segregation, composting, coastal clean-ups, farm-to-table dining, using local building materials, and using solar energy.

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Look for properties that have certification or awards from the Philippine Green Building Initiative, Inc, the ASEAN Green Hotel Awards, or the DOT’s ANAHAW Philippine Sustainable Tourism Certification.

Of course, you can also do more beyond just booking and staying at these hotels and resorts. You can turn off all the electronic devices, including the air conditioner, when leaving your hotel room. Let the staff know you will be reusing your towels, bed linen, and sheets. If your room is clean anyway, hang the “Don’t Disturb” sign to prevent unnecessary vacuuming and cleaning.

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ATV Ride in Mt. Mayon, Legazpi, Albay

The Department of Tourism has advised local hotels, resorts, and tour operators to seek DOT accreditation so the department can help them adopt sustainable tourism practices. DOT-accredited accommodations and tour operators get access to technical tools that will help them become sustainable. This is part of the DOT’s plan on how to develop sustainable tourism in the country. 

When you tour the Philippines , book with DOT-accredited travel agencies like Guide to the Philippines. We partner with DOT-accredited hotels, resorts, and tour operators and help them to widen their global reach by showcasing their products online in our platform. 

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Daku Island in Siargao

The “Clean as you go” or CLAYGO rule should be followed not only when you travel but in your everyday life. Simply put, leave no trace means you don’t leave any item when you visit a natural tourist destination. This rule is mainly for litter like tissue, food wrappers, and plastic bottles, but be mindful of unintentionally leaving behind personal belongings, which could also end up harming the environment. 

Some tourist destinations like the Pink Beach in Zamboanga have their own strict leave no trace policies, and those who violate them can be charged fines or put in jail and/or community service. 

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Mt. Mayon in Legazpi, Albay

One simple way to practice how to be a responsible traveler is to bring your own reusable utensils and water bottles when you travel. This will help reduce your use of single-use plastics and lessen your carbon footprint when traveling. If you’re worried about these items taking too much space in your bag, you should consider foldable travel spoons, forks, and chopsticks and collapsible water bottles. 

Similar to the leave no trace policy, some places in the Philippines have tried reducing waste by banning single-use plastics. In Siargao , for example, plastic bags are not allowed, and restaurants are prohibited from selling water in plastic bottles. El Nido also has a plastic ban which requires all boat passengers to surrender their single-use plastic bottles and bags before boarding.

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Ifugao native at the Banaue Rice Terraces

The Philippines is home to many different cultures, and one way to experience some of these cultures and how to encourage sustainable tourism is to go on a cultural immersion in an indigenous village. Cultural immersion can be as simple as sharing a meal with some of the locals or participating in their local activities or as immense as living with the locals in their homes for a period of time. Many Luzon tourist spots like Buscalan, Batad, Banaue , and Sagada offer homestays for tourists.

Whatever path you choose, make sure to always be respectful of the traditions, rituals, and the locals themselves. Learning about another culture and way of life will not only be a learning experience, but it will also help you appreciate the destination even more.

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When we think about what are the characteristics of a sustainable tourism destination, many of them can actually be found on a farm, so staying at or touring a farm is a no-brainer when it comes to traveling responsibly.

The Philippine agrotourism industry has bloomed, thanks to the country’s best farm tour destinations . Agrotourism in the Philippines offers agricultural activities like feeding animals, picking your own fruits and vegetables, and various workshops, including cooking demonstrations. 

Take it to the next level by staying at farm resorts in the Philippines . Spending a couple of days in these farm stays will not only teach you how to achieve sustainable tourism, but it will also teach you ways of how to be more sustainable in your daily routine.

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Filipino cuisine offers a variety of tastes, smells, and textures, and if you can’t have a meal at an actual Filipino home, the next best way to experience it is in a local Filipino restaurant. Not only will you experience a more authentic meal, but you will also help out small businesses thrive. 

Patronizing local restaurants also help the environment. Local restaurants that source their ingredients locally have a smaller carbon footprint because the produce doesn’t have to travel far to reach their destination. While eating at any restaurant, remember that you can help reduce your food waste and promote sustainability by only ordering food that you can finish and ordering dishes with ingredients that are in season.

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Not all wildlife attractions are created equal. Do your research and look for those that consider the welfare of the creatures that they feature. Show that you know how to travel responsibly by following all the rules set by the guides.

For example, when visiting the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Bohol , you will be told to stay quiet as much as possible, not use flash when taking photos, and refrain from touching the tarsiers to ensure that they won’t get stressed.

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If you want to see and swim with whale sharks in Donsol, you will be told to keep your distance from the animals and not use flash photography to avoid startling and hurting them.

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Transportation can greatly add to your carbon footprint, but with many options for traveling to and within a destination, your choices can help you lessen that. When taking flights, choose direct flights over those with layovers. Heavier airplanes also consume more fuel, so do your part and pack as light as you can.

How to achieve sustainable tourism while exploring a destination? Choose to walk or bike whenever possible. Not only do you help reduce your carbon footprint, but you’ll also get to appreciate your surroundings more since you are passing by them at a slower pace. Destinations like Boracay and Intramuros in Manila offer bike tours in the Philippines where you can explore attractions while burning some calories!

If your stops are not close enough to bike or walk to, use public transportation or shared rides instead of using a private vehicle. 

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Of course, if you can forego the flights altogether, the better, as this means your carbon footprint will be lower. The Philippines is full of amazing destinations that, chances are, you don’t need to board a flight to see at least one of the best beaches near Manila or the best beaches in the Philippines . If you want to explore Luzon, you can go on a road trip near Manila and enjoy nearby places like Pampanga , Bataan , Batangas , and Tagaytay .

Posting about your trips is also a simple way of how to promote sustainable tourism. If more people knew about the amazing destinations that are near where they live, more travelers would be willing to explore these, which helps distribute tourists across several destinations more evenly.

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While it is sometimes tempting to pack a lot of destinations in your travel itinerary, consider limiting your vacation to just one area. Staying in one location reduces your carbon emissions since you don’t need to travel from one destination to the next. Booking a holiday in one place also means less time actually traveling and more time exploring, which allows you to spend more time in attractions because your visits aren’t rushed. 

For an even more convenient vacation, you can book Philippine tour packages . Some of these packages already include accommodations and tours, so you can focus on taking in and appreciating the destination itself.

Whether you visit Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao tourist spots , you’ll likely find a shop or even roving vendors selling unique and locally made souvenirs. Patronizing these small businesses will not only help the local industry thrive, but the items you will buy will more likely have a smaller carbon footprint compared to those that you can find in big shops since locally made souvenirs don’t need to travel far to reach the customers.

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If you can, visit shops that actually allow tourists to see the production process so you can learn about and understand the local heritage more. In places like Zamboanga City , Vigan , and Baguio , you can visit weaving centers and villages to see how local fabric is made.

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It is also better to buy souvenirs that you will actually use so you can lessen waste and save money. For example, when visiting Laguna tourist spots , it is advisable to drop by Liliw so you can shop for affordable but sturdy slippers and shoes.

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Sometimes the products we use on our travels affect the environment negatively. The chemicals on our sunblock and our insect repellant can have chemicals that are harmful to the reefs, the sea, and the rest of the environment. Before your trip, look for sunscreen and insect repellants made from natural ingredients that won’t harm the planet. 

Sand- and water-repelling towels are also good to use when you’re traveling to the best beaches in the Philippines . Bringing home sand stuck to your towel may be just a mild annoyance to you, but put together all the sand travelers accidentally bring home, and you have a beach eroding faster than usual. 

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Photo by Clark International Airport

What is the aim of sustainable tourism? It is to ultimately protect the environment while also taking into consideration the need of travelers and tourism stakeholders. One of the simplest ways you can help is to ditch the printed itineraries and tickets and go fully digital.

Most airlines and hotels now accept digital copies of itineraries or QR codes, so there’s no reason for you to print out something that you could actually misplace. If you’re worried about not being able to download what you need because of poor or no internet connection, access what you need when you have connectivity and save a screenshot so it becomes available even when you’re offline.

While digital activities also have their own carbon footprint, at least they don’t have a physical output that could eventually end up in the trash. 

Practice Sustainable Tourism in the Philippines

With the effects of climate change becoming harsher with every passing day, we need to rethink the way we live, and that includes how we travel. We need to understand what is sustainable tourism development and do our part as travelers to help preserve the beauty of our favorite travel destinations. 

Traveling sustainably and responsibly is the only way that we and future generations can keep enjoying all the attractions and the best islands in the Philippines for many years to come.

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