Sustainable TourismThe Philippine Context
By: Carmela “Cheenee” Otarra, MTourAteneo Development Field School | 26 June 2015
• Is sustainable tourism development possible?
• How can sustainable tourism development be achieved?
• Who are responsible (stakeholders) for sustainable tourism development?
Objectives:At the end of this session, we should be able to:• Analyze the relationship of the macro and
micro contexts of the tourism industry• Determine key challenges to sustainable
tourism development• Consider possible solutions to address the
challenges to sustainable tourism development
Outline
I. The Tourism IndustryII. Classic Tourism Development
TheoriesIII. Ideal Sustainable Tourism
DevelopmentIV. Issues in Tourism DevelopmentV. Some Possible SolutionsVI.Conclusion
Tourist
Manila Heritage
Tour
Farmers provide
foodAluminiu
m smelter
Fertilizer compan
y
Bus builder
Mining Corporati
on
Foreign exchange input
Leakage (Imported)
multipliers
Multipliers, Leakage & Supply Chains
Aluminium sheet
Adapted from: Gary Lacey (2013)
Long-term Outlook• International tourist arrivals worldwide are
expected to increase by 3.3% a year between 2010 and 2030 to reach 1.8 billion by 2030, according to UNWTO’s long term forecast Tourism Towards 2030.
• Between 2010 and 2030, arrivals in emerging destinations (+4.4% a year) are expected to increase at twice the rate of those in advanced economies (+2.2% a year).
• The market share of emerging economies increased from 30% in 1980 to 45% in 2014, and is expected to reach 57% by 2030, equivalent to over 1 billion international tourist arrivals
Source: United Nations World Tourism Organization (2015)
Tourism in the Philippines
Source: Department of Tourism
1960
1963
1966
1969
1972
1975
1978
1981
1984
1987
1990
1993
1996
1999
2002
2005
2008
2011
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,000
4,000,000
4,500,000
International Visitor Arrivals to the Philippines (1960-2012)
Sources: NSCB and UNWTO
Local Level?
“Local people’s perception on the impacts and importance of ecotourism in Sabang, Palawan, Philippines” by Jeffrey O. Jalani
Local Level: Sabang, Palawan
• Site: Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP)
• Objectives: To examine the… – effects of ecotourism to the local
community in terms of livelihood generation and influx of people
– views of the local community on the impact of ecotourism and importance of natural resource to the tourism industry
• Methodology: Survey and Key Informant Interview
Results• Tourism industry: – source of income for most household– seen as beneficial– led to change of livelihood – high influx of people because of work opportunity
• Environmental protection: seen as least positive impact against work opportunity & city development
• High level of awareness and involvement among locals in the protection of the environment
• Most respondents oblivious that the environment is the key tourism resource.
Tourism Planning in the Philippines
• Process – Government-led (ex: CamSur)– Private sector led (ex: El Nido hotels)
• Stakeholders– Government (Mayor, Tourism Officer, MENRO)– Private sector (Hotels, Tour Operators,
Transpo)– Tourism councils– Academe
Government-Led
• Local government – local product development, legislation (Tourism Code), budget, investment generation–Municipal or Provincial Tourism Officers– Economic and Investment Officers– Environment and Natural Resources
Officers– Tourism Council (public & private)
• Department of Tourism – marketing, capacity building
Private-Led
• Private accommodation establishments, tour operators, travel agencies
• Association of hotels, tour operators, travel agencies
• Examples:– FlipTrip– Philippine Airlines: increased flights in
Batanes
Doxey’s Irritation IndexLevel of Irritation
Destination Responses to Tourism
Euphoria • Sense of excitement and anticipation• Informal contact with tourists
Apathy • More formal contact with tourists• Tourism seen as a source of income
and investment
Annoyance • Residents begin to show misgivings about tourism industry due to increasing numbers, external investment and infrastructure
Antagonism
• Irritations: expressed verbally and physically
• Tourists: seen as cause of the problem
“Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing tourism for
the future. It is envisioned as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes,
biological diversity and life support systems.”-WTO, 2001
Economic Impact• Tourism income • Employment• Multiplier effect• Post-disaster or
post-conflict economic driver
• From 816,000 visitors in 2011 to more than one million in 2012
• 67% increase in tourism earnings from 2011 ($319 million) to 2012 ($534 million)
Source: http://travel.cnn.com/myanmar-records-one-million-tourists-67-percent-increase-tourism-income-037441
MyanmarTourism earnings contributed to the income of the country after the political crisis.
Socio-cultural Impact• Increased pride in
indigenous cultural practices and values
• Improved social indicators brought about by economic impact
• Women empowerment
I have heard a Setswana adage that ‘gadi etelelwe ke manamagadi,’ [women cannot lead], but here I am working as a woman. I guide tourists and am the first woman to work as a guide in my community in Manyana. I feel very good about myself.
Source: Moswete & Lacey
Environmental Impact• Conserves and protects
natural resources • Promotes efficient
energy consumption and proper waste management
Sydney• New building
technologies and techniques became mainstream.
• Cleanup of Homebush Bay, a site contaminated by industrial waste, for use as a venue.
Source: Lacey
Bali Case Study
What are the economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts of ecotourism?
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBXLmUAtbVA
Economic Issues
• Leakage: the money that goes out of a destination due to imported raw materials, souvenirs, furniture, labor– Did tourism really benefit the locals or
did it benefit suppliers or manufacturers from another country
–Where did the ingredients come from?–Where did the souvenirs come from?–Where do employees live? Are they
locals?
Economic Issues
• Lack of inclusive growth–Who are the ones that gain from
tourism?– Do the locals really benefit from
employment or via the supply chain?– Tension between luxury (or enclave
tourism) and community-based tourism
• Increase in prices– Surge in prices of commodities and real
estate
Economic Issues
• Economic dependence on tourism– Lack of economic diversification: risky–Maldives: 83% of workforce depend on
tourism–What are the possible impacts of
economic recession and natural disasters on tourism-dependent economies?
Socio-cultural Issues
• Change or loss of indigenous identity and values (cultural erosion)– Factors: tourists’ behavior,
commodification, staged authenticity, adaptation to tourist demands
– Altering livelihoods to accommodate tourism (ex: farmers to tour guides; fisherman to bangka tour guides)
Socio-cultural Issues
• Tension between locals and tourists on the use of resources– Should the distribution of energy or water
depend on the use of hotels and resorts?
• Prostitution and Human Trafficking– Sex tourism: alarming in the Philippines– Children's Legal Bureau: 60,000 - 100,000
children prostitutes in the Philippines
Socio-cultural Issues
• Displacement or forced migration for locals– Factors: real estate development, rising
real estate prices, rising standards of living
–Migrants take away employment opportunities from locals
Environmental Issues• Decreased
biodiversity, environmental degradation, endangered wildlife– Factors: Tourist
activity, waste, lack of awareness and information dissemination
Environmental Issues• Global warming
and climate change– Carbon emissions
from air transport and other modes of transportation
– How much is your travel carbon footprint?
Economic• Legislation that supports the creation
of tourism enterprises (e.g. Tourism Code, LIIC)
• Support local industries to reduce leakage
• Diversify other sectors related to the tourism industry
• Ex: LGSP-LED - promotes investment, equips government, strengthens tourism industry, and trains locals (workforce development)
Socio-cultural• Stakeholder Management - Consider
local opinion & knowledge; address conflict between migrants & locals
• Educate tourists on their possible impact
• Instill cultural pride among locals, empower locals
• Ex: Palaui (Blue Water); Bhutan
Environmental• Carrying Capacity• Limits of Acceptable Change• Site hardening• Ex: Kenya; Kalanggaman Island;
Aloguinsan River
• Is sustainable tourism development possible? How?
• Who is responsible for sustainable tourism development in the Philippines?
Objectives:At the end of this session, we should be able to:• Analyze the relationship of the macro and
micro contexts of the tourism industry• Determine key challenges to sustainable
tourism development• Consider possible solutions to address the
challenges to sustainable tourism development