Discussions:

Part 1.

1. Select three (3) tourism resources that you think are the top choices of our foreign
tourists when they visit the Philippines, discuss what you can do as an ordinary
person to help our government sustain it?

The three (3) tourism resources that I think are the top choices of our foreign tourists
when they visit the Philippines are: Banaue Rice Terraces, Boracay, and Chocolate Hills.

As an ordinary person, I can help our government to sustain the tourism resources by:
first, employing environmentally friendly practices, such as reducing, reusing, and recycling.
Second, patronizing local tourism products, such as activities, attractions, facilities, resources,
services, and cultural, man-made, and natural resources. Last, promoting tourism resources
locally and globally by using different social media platforms.

2. Assuming you are tasked to work for your local tourism office, choose one (1)
tourist attraction in your city/province and discuss how you will balance
environmental awareness and cultural preservation of this attraction?

The one (1) tourist attraction that I chose in my province which is Bulacan is the Mount
Balagbag Trekking and Camping Site.

I will balance the environmental awareness and cultural preservation of this attraction by:
first, appointing a person in the bottom, middle, and top of the tourist attraction to facilitate and
orient the tourists and for the tourists to become careful and mindful of their actions and prevent
doing inappropriate actions. Second, determining and regulating the maximum capacity of the
tourist attraction to not abuse and destroy the plants and rock formations and also to not disturb
the people who lived there. Third, placing a comfort room and three (3) trash bins with proper
labels; biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and recyclable in the bottom, middle, and top of the
tourist attraction to give the tourists a comfortable trip and to prevent disposing the waste and
excreting anywhere. Last, putting different signages that indicate the directions and the dos and
don'ts to secure the tourists that they are still on the right path and to avoid inappropriate actions.
 3. Based on your personal experience as a traveler, can you discuss one tourist
attraction that you have visited and give your insights on the following:

The one (1) tourist attraction that I have visited is the Mount Balagbag Trekking and
Camping Site. Mount Balagbag Trekking and Camping Site have very affordable
accommodation. It has different plants and rock formations that can take photos with it. Also, it
has a peaceful and relaxing ambiance that can surely release all your stress. And from the top,
you can see a beautiful overlooking view of sunrise and sunset.

a. Purpose of your visit.

The purposes of my visit are to enjoy, exercise, explore, relax, and release stress.

b. Length of your stay.

The length of my stay is less than three (3) hours.

c. Value of money you spent on accommodation, food and other services.

The value I spent on accommodation is ₱30.00 and on transportation is ₱106.00.

4. Do you think restrictions in preserving our environment particularly the famous

tourist attractions that are frequently visited by local and foreign tourists will have
a negative impact on the destinations why and why not?

Yes, I think restrictions in preserving our environment particularly the famous tourist
attractions that are frequently visited by local and foreign tourists will have a negative impact on
the destinations because it limits the actions and activities that the tourists can do because they
might affect the preservation of the environment and also it limits the number of tourists that
affects the income of the tourist destinations.

Part 2.

1. The Cultural, Economic, Environmental, and Social Impacts of Tourism

a. Cultural Impacts in Tourism

● Negative Impacts
 ○ Clash of cultures
○ Commodification of culture
○ Demonstration effects

● Positive Impacts

○ Boost cultural conservation

○ Commercialization of art and culture
○ Encourage cultural exchange
○ Preservation cultural heritage

b. Economic Impacts in Tourism

● Negative Impacts

○ High consumer and land prices

○ High inflation and interest rate
○ Increase in demand for imported goods
○ Leakages such as export and import leakage
○ Over-dependence on tourism
○ Seasonal jobs

● Positive Impacts

○ Can build, expand and improve establishments and facilities

○ Create job opportunities such as direct and indirect employment
○ Economic growth and living standard
○ Generate income
○ High currency exchange
○ Improve the balance of life
○ Increase in investment
○ Linkage effect
○ Provide tax revenue such as direct and indirect taxes

c. Environmental Impacts in Tourism

 ● Negative Impacts

○ Destruction of fauna and flora

○ Ecological disturbance
○ Globalization
○ Land degradation
○ Overcrowding and traffic congestion
○ Pollution such as air, environmental, land, noise, soil, visual, and water
pollution
○ Poor waste management
○ Resource depletion

● Positive Impacts

○ Creation and development of the environment and natural parks

○ Increase environmental awareness and values
○ Preservation and conservation of the environment
○ Raise awareness on sustainable tourism

d. Social Impacts in Tourism

● Negative Impacts

○ Lifestyles

■ Congestion
■ Health problems
■ Social change
■ Transformation of forms and types of occupation

○ Moral Issues

■ Crime and gambling generation

■ Prostitution and sex tourism

● Positive Impacts
 ○ Improve the way of life
○ Strengthening communities

2. Measurement of Social and Cultural Impact

● Doxey’s Index of Tourist Irritation (IRRIDEX Model)

Doxey’s Index of Tourist Irritation (IRRIDEX Model) is used to characterize and explain
the deteriorating responses of the residents to tourism, tourism development, and tourists. It
suggests that as the number of tourists increases at a given destination, the residents pass through
a sequence of emotions and reactions. Its different phases are primarily the consequence of
tourism development in terms of cultural, economic, environmental, and social impacts on the
destination. Also, the model assumes that the resulting circumstances with negative socio-
cultural impacts can lead to irritation in the community.

1. The level of euphoria

● Residents are enthusiastic and thrilled by tourist development. They

interact and welcome the tourists. Both residents and tourists have a
feeling of satisfaction because they have opportunities to bring in money.

2. The level of apathy

● As the destination continues to develop, the residents begin to take the

tourists for granted. They begin to have a lack of concern, enthusiasm, and
interest and do not go out of their way to interact with the tourists. Contact
on the personal level begins to become more formal and the tourists
rapidly become a target for profit-taking.

3. The level of annoyance/irritation

● This will begin when the destination is nearing the saturation point or pass
a level at which the residents cannot handle the number of tourists without
expanding their facilities. Furthermore, as the residents and tourists
become the same in number, the residents feel as if they are competing for
 their resources. When this happens, the local tourists avoid places where
the tourists go.

4. The level of antagonism

● When the tourists greatly outnumber the residents, the irritations become
more overt to the point that the residents become antagonistic towards the
tourists. They see the tourists as the harbinger of all that is bad. “Taxes
have gone up because of the tourists.,” “They have no respect for
property.,” “They have corrupted our youth.,” “They are bent on
destroying all that is fine in our town.” Mutual politeness has now given
way to antagonism and the tourists are ripped off.

5. The final level

● All this while, the residents have forgotten that they allowed the
environment to change and that what they cherished was because of the
tourists. They now must learn to live with the fact that their ecosystem will
never be the same again. They might still be able to attract tourists but in a
different type from those they so happily welcomed in early years.
Moreover, if the destination is large enough to cope with mass tourism it
will continue to thrive.

● Hierarchy of Markets

○ The hierarchy of markets defines what stage of the life cycle the
destination is at.

1. Virgin

● brand new destination

● very few tourists

2. Emergent

● emerges as an up-and-coming market

 ● more well known

3. Defined

● know what to do and see

● tourists know what is in the destination

4. Mature

● has different types of tourists

● has infrastructure
● very well known

5. Dense

● closely compacted
● near to the saturation point

6. Saturated

● limited options in terms of building, change, and

improvements
● reached a point of maturity