Philippines - Tourism in the Philippines
Ecotourism is used to mean tourism based principally upon the natural and archeological resources such as birds and other wildlife, scenic areas, reefs, caves, fossil sites, archeological sites, wetlands, and areas of rare and extinct species. It is primarily resource-based, protection of these natural and archeological resources is essential for sustained ecotourism.
Governments are increasingly interested in ecotourism primarily because of its large economic benefits and its resource conservation and environmental protection aspects. It provides income and it promotes environmental awareness. Ecotourism can produce a major influx to (foreign and domestic) monies to an area, a whole region, or a state or country. It also helps protect the natural and cultural values of an area. Ecotourism helps educate individuals throughout the society concerning the values of natural and cultural areas, and builds constituencies for these areas. It helps develop local govermment and landowner pride in resources, and, It offers both in-country and out-of-country educational and scientific research opportunities.
Potential ecological problems posed by ecotourism are the direct damage done to sensitive areas like trampling, collecting of plants and animals, and the damage done due to construction of infrastructures, etc. Unintentional destruction may also occur by overzealous land owners attempting to capitalize upon visitors.
The non-ecological problems posed by ecotourism are the anticipated or the expected increase may not materialize for a country, region or site after funds are spent for ecotourism development, and ecotourists may be attracted initially to an area and come on time, but not return, resulting in a “one shot” in tourism and economic benefits for the area.
Philippines - Tourism in the Philippines
There has been a skyrocketing interest in ecotourism around the world. This could be mainly attributed to the changed preferences on the part of the tourist. There has been an increased interest in and concern with the general “environment” in both developing and developed nations . This includes an interest in unique and disappearing animal and plant species and other natural features, the desire for new “learning experiences” and the belief that many of the natural environments throughout the world is rapidly disappearing and they must be visited now.
Increased ecotourism is also due to improved infrastructure (roads, hotels, gas stations) and transportation (planes, buses) in countries with ecotourism potentials. It is supplemented with the establishment of ecotourism tours by non-government organizations, specialized tour operators and promotion of ecotourism by various governments, travel agents, airlines, and schools. Mass media also played an important role in the spread of ecotourism, publicity has been given to ecotourism by television programs, movies, many books, and articles in magazines and newspapers.
Paralleling tourism’s rapid expansion in recent years has come to a concern for managing its future growth and impacts. Tourism, like other economic enterprise, is well recognized as an agent for change.
The Philippine government has been interested in ecotourism ever since because of its economic
benefits and its resource conservation and environmental protection aspects. The archipelago having
great ecotourism potential spots has provided ecological and non-ecological benefits to the country. The
Philippine’s interest in ecotourism also made possible that areas of such natural and cultural heritage has
been protected and conserved. Local and foreign tourists from around the world travel to the Philippines to
see the beautiful beaches of Boracay and Puerto Azul, the eighth wonder Banaue Rice Terraces, to daily
touch the sky in Baguio, to step on the mesmerizing Hundred Islands of Pangasinan, to explore caves and
hike mountains all over the archipelago.
