Tourism, sustainably

I started writing this piece in the middle of a 2-hour lecture for a subject called Strategic Spatial Planning.  It was a 2-degree wintry day outside and I was wrapped in 3 layers of clothing inside the lecture room, and now that it’s spring it’s still quite cool at rainy 12 degrees. In any given day, I often forget either one among the necessary hats, scarves or gloves.  That day more than ever made me dream of verdant islands under the brilliant sun with pretty, chilled cocktails on hand.  The class was about tourism and how it should be sustainable economically, ecologically and socially.  A tall order and perhaps strategic planning can lead right to it, according to the professor.  Very interesting indeed but it got repetitive and so my mind wandered back to clear blue waters where schools of fish nip at your toes and perform the most natural foot spa ever.  Where, after coming out of those waters, you head to an al fresco beach side smorgasbord of fresh food, cool drinks and happy people. And when the sun sets, firelight dances under twinkling stars.  Naturally, I thought of summer and tourism in the Philippines.  Of the catchy ‘it’s more fun’ campaigns and the targets of the country’s tourism agenda. Of how cool & fantastic this is now but also of how realistic and sustainable could it be in the long run…

serenity in a sandbar

Just last year, the Philippines recorded 4.27 million tourist arrivals, according to Wikipedia (and DOT), with top 3 visitors coming from South Korea, the US and Japan. A decade ago, barely half of that visited the country.  Economically, tourism now reportedly contributes ~8% of the country’s GDP while employing  3.8M Filipinos or approximately 11% of the national workforce. It is remarkable enough that the government is going full-force in planning to accommodate further projected visitors of around 5.5M this year.  A news report online showed an infographic for a target of 10M(!) foreign tourist by 2016.  Current visitors are less than half, can you just imagine what shortcuts will be made to achieve more than double in 3 years?  We basically foresee that these touristic endeavors will bring in more revenue (to just over a cool billion) but along with comes inherent problems, encompassing all of ecological, social and physical aspects.  The natural attractions that we want to promote and preserve, are also the reasons why polluting structures spring up around it, thus the ecological and spatial dilemma, whether it be for a pristine beach, amazing landforms, caves & trail hikes, etc. The effects of the social atmosphere that pervades in an area unprepared for a flock of demanding, international tourists is far-reaching to the locals, especially the impressionable youth.   Personally, I just hope that the influences all travelers leave behind will be better than bad. One veteran travel writer reported explicitly his experience of how two islands from the same country can be very similar, but are so different. His article encapsulates exactly what kind of tourism and its effects are now felt in Boracay and El Nido.

Checking out the Department of Tourism website, I am encouraged to see that their home page features the heritage conservation being implemented in Taal.  Turn of the century houses are adaptively reused as art cafes, curio shops, bed & breakfast places. And the people are clearly dedicated to preserving the culture not only through museums but through interaction with guests.  This at least shows once again that the country has definitely more to offer that sun, sand and seas. Reading through the news page is worthwhile as well as checking out the destinations and gateways. I have to say the website is better now that it is simpler and clearer to navigate. This wasn’t the case weeks ago when I read the Taal feature. From other blogs, I got updates of interesting facilites that regions from North to South are putting up to promote their cities.  Wakeboarding in Camarines Sur and ziplinling in Puerto Princesa are some, ecological adventure parks are emerging all over Mindanao. There’s a whole plethora of alternatives from the mainstream R&R tourism, ie: Culture and heritage,  solidarity and fair tourism, volunteer-ism and even medical tourism.  I’m wondering which ones are being taken up more in the islands.  A cursory check on hotels and hostels reveal an interesting array of choices for accommodation. Several blogs cater to the independent, budget-conscious traveler espousing for the less-trodden path. Social media applications abound that rely on word-of-mouth (or mobile, for this matter) and first-hand recommendations to endorse services, facilities or products. Now more than ever, Filipinos are traveling en masse to tried and true vacation spots as well as to little-known municipalities, posting hidden gems of falls, lakes, streams, farms and beaches in Facebook and Instagram while they’re at it.

What I’m trying to say is that tourism is well and good and really more fun if the infrastructure for it has been properly planned and implemented.  Let’s not forget the regulations and the resources required to actually protect and enforce the law.  Manila’s international airport has been receiving negative comments for so long, authorities should fix it correctly just to get over this flak  once and for all.  Add to that the recent furor of Manila portrayed as the ‘gates of hell’ in Dan Brown’s latest novel, and I can imagine some would actually concur that the airport is exactly like going through some kind of hellish gate.  Yet the author reportedly means the Metro and that’s another ballpark right there that I’d rather discuss off-topic.  The domestic terminal in the NAIA is much better that it actually got me thinking before: Maybe the best is reserved for the local travellers instead?  But then again, although it was reported that most foreign tourists only use Manila as a jump-off point for the islands of Palawan and Boracay, why can’t decent and professional services be provided for  both international and domestic travelers?

With the government’s target to achieve double digit (in millions)  foreigner visits by 2016, I fear a lot of aspects-big issues and small details- will be compromised along the way.  And by then, damages done to once nearly-obscure, beautiful places would be on its way to becoming Boracay, with problems of wastes, commercialization, environmental degradation and overcrowding.  With Philippines regarded as one of the top 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world, these would really be beyond crying shame. If we are to maintain this promising ‘rise in economic development’, with GDP indicators everywhere showing more positive outcomes, it is just logical that tourism infrastructure be strengthened to meet demands in the most sustainable manner possible.  Should it be that the government declare more natural attractions as protected parks and reserves? In the same way that Palawan was somewhat protected from the tourist rush in the 80’s and in year 2000 onwards, other natural attractions must now be treated as carefully and with a strong legal mandates. Executive Order 111 is a definite framework for the creation of a regulated ecotourism state in the Philippines and this must be strictly followed.  Then, hopefully projects will be more than just blanket golf courses, high-end spas, marinas and big-chain hotels.   Perhaps the government can give more incentive to encourage local small businesses with accommodating tourists while protecting their surrounding assets? Grass-roots involvement and local communities’ participation have been proven to promote increasingly meaningful experiences with foreigners.  This has been demonstrated in creative ways and various locations in the country.  This also provides positive livelihood to men and women who reside  there and encourages the youth to be culturally aware.   Some examples I’d like to check out is this ‘expedition’ where guests roam the waters+islands while this actually teaches life survival skills.  I appreciate how this park remained under the radar for so long it allowed the animals to flourish.  But how long will these beaches remain unspoilt when unmindful developers come to take over and lease shore-lands for decades?

from all over the islands

Probably the best reason for a mindset shift in tourism is for the local residents themselves. Analysis impacts assessment is not enough, the next level of enabling the tourism process work with net positive ecological+social results is imperative. Let’s just start with that, it may not be the fastest way to profit immediately, but communities (and the environment) will benefit directly in ways more than instant revenue can bring. So, suspend for a while questioning the sustainability impact of tourists consuming fuel to fly halfway around the world to reach Philippines shores, is sustainable tourism actually realistic? The UN World Tourism Organization defined it as a “kind of tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future.  It is envisaged 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”.  Is this how it’s done  in the whole archipelago now? I sincerely hope that we can say we are on the right direction.

Tags: Philippine tourism, Planning, sustainable tourism