PHILIPPINE TOURISM, GEOGRAPHY,
AND CULTURE
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
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LESSON OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Appreciate the touristic value of the tourist destinations in the
different provinces and cities of the Philippines;
2. Identify the various provinces in each region and towns, chartered
and component cities in each province on a blank map;
3. Identify the major access routes to major domestic destinations;
4. Name and describe major attractions in each province;
5. Know the cultural differences and similarities among the major
ethnic groups in the country;
6. Improve their research and presentation skills
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INTRODUCTION
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
The Philippines is a beautiful country.
Filipinos are friendly and hospitable.
The Philippines also has a wide range of
accommodations from luxurious to
budget-friendly types.
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
1. San Agustin Church in Manila
2. Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte
3. Sta. Maria Church in Ilocos Sur
4. Miag-ao Church in Iloilo
5. Vigan in Ilocos Sur
6. Rice Terraces in Cordilleras
7. Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary
8. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
9. Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
Tourism has become a valuable economic, social and cultural driver. Its impacts
have become far and wide.
There are two types of tourism based on origin – international and domestic
tourism. Domestic tourism is defined as travel made within one’s country of
residence.
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
Economic Aspect
On the economic vantage point, domestic tourism has contributed
vastly in increasing a country’s economic activity. In the Philippines,
domestic tourism activity has become increasingly high. Domestic
tourists outnumbering international tourists ten times more.
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
Socio-cultural Aspect
The Philippine culture is a blend of the Malay-
Polynesian, Hispanic and Western cultures with some
influence from the Chinese and other Asian cultures.
Having Spain colonize us for more than 300 years and
the Americans thereafter have made the Filipinos a
melting pot of different cultures.
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
Socio-cultural Aspect
Filipinos have a very strong sense of family and “kapwa”
– others.
The Filipinos are known to be one of the most hospitable
people in the world wherein we think of others as part
of themselves and their family.
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
Socio-cultural Aspect
Filipinos are also lovers of art in many forms.
Music is an integral part of the Filipino culture as evidenced by singing, dancing
and playing musical instruments.
The many town fiestas celebrated in different parts of the country is a testimony
of the Filipinos faith and gratefulness to patron saints where a lot of religious
activities, street dancing, singing and eating are part of the celebration.
Also, the Philippines has the longest Christmas celebration in the world.
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
Environmental Protection
One of the major threats to environmental protection is the
growth of tourism.
The implementation of laws and policies in favor of the
environment has to be strictly enforced for tourism development
to be sustainable.
As tourism development ensues, sustainability is a key challenge.
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
4 A’s of Tourism
o Access
• Land, sea and air access to and from the destination as
well as within the destination should be relatively fast
and easy
• Roads, bridges and ports should be developed to
acceptable levels to accommodate the influx of tourists.
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
4 A’s of Tourism
o Attractions
• The attractions can be cultural/heritage/historic, natural
and built/man-made.
• There should be a good mix of these three types for
good variety.
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
4 A’s of Tourism
o Accommodations
• There should be a wide range of
accommodations
• Accommodations should include the most basic
needs of a comfortable bed, clean toilets and
food services.
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
4 A’s of Tourism
o Activities
• The activities should be connected to each other
with varying degrees within a similar theme.
• Themes would include adventure, health and
wellness, medical, sports, MICE (meetings,
incentives, conferences and events) etc.
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
Basic Facts About the Philippines
A. Islands in the Philippines
1. Largest Island- Luzon Island (42, 458 square miles)
2. Smallest Island- no known smallest island due to low and high tide
variations
3. Number of Islands- 7, 641 Islands (Barile, 2017)
4. Length of Coastline- Estimates of the total length of the coastline
range from 17,500 kilometers (official
Philippine figure) to 36,289 kilometers (U.S.
figure) (Library of Congress. Federal
Research Division, 2006).
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
Basic Facts About the Philippines
B. Major Landforms
1. Highest Point- Mount Apo (9,692 feet elevation)
2. Oldest Province- Aklan
3. Number of Provinces- 81 Provinces (PSA, 2018)
4. Largest/Smallest Province-
a. Largest Province- Palawan (17,035.75 sq. kms land area)
b. Smallest Province- Batanes (203.22 sq. kms land area)
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
Basic Facts About the Philippines
B. Major Landforms
5. Climate Information- January to May- Dry season
November to February- Cold season
March to May- Hot and Dry
June to October- Rainy Season
6. Language- Filipino (or Pilipino) and English
Major Dialects- Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo,
Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense
There are about 76 to 78 major language groups, with more than 500 dialects (DOT, 2018).
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
Basic Facts About the Philippines
7. Major Ethnic Groups
The Philippines has more than 100 ethnic groups. The more
dominant ethnic groups include Tagalog, Bisaya, Cebuano, Ilocano,
Ilonggo and Waray.
Ethnic Group Population (2010)
Tagalog 22,512,089
Visayan/Bisaya 10,539,816
Cebuano 9,125,637
Ilokano/Ilocano 8,074,536
Hiligaynon/Ilonggo 7,773,655
Waray 3,660,645
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority (2018)
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
Threats to Preservation of Culture
o 1. Standardization- Culture-based education is eroded and the
national language induces change within the particular culture.
o 2. Mass media- radio, television, print and more recently, social
media has provided a window to the world. New tastes, needs and
opinions are created which contributes to the destruction of
traditional value systems.
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Philippine Tourism: An Overview
Life Expectancy
2015 69.0
2016 69.1
2017 69.2
Source: United Nations Development Programme
Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2017
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PROCESSING QUESTIONS
1. What are the qualities of the Philippines that make it a unique and attractive
destination?
2. What are the 4As of tourism? Why are these As important?
3. What are the distinct characteristics of Filipinos? Is it the same across regions?
4. Based on your own experiences and regional affiliation, what are the distinct
characteristics of Filipinos not mentioned in this chapter? Share them with your
teacher and classmates.
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ACTIVITY
Recall a recent trip you took out of town and assess the
destination based on the 4As – Access, Attractions,
Accommodations and Amenities and other unique selling
points. Write a 300-word essay about it.
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