COSTA PACIFICO

A Proposed Biophilic Agri-Tourism Hotel and Resort with Recreational Facilities

A Thesis Proposal Presented to the Faculty of the

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the

DIANNE A. CANDOR

September 2022
 ABSTRACT

As the coronavirus pandemic rapidly sweeps across the world, it is inducing a considerable

degree of fear, worry and concern in the population at large and among certain groups in particular,

such as older adults, care providers and people with underlying health conditions.

In public mental health terms, the main psychological impact to date is elevated rates of

stress or anxiety. But as new measures and impacts are introduced - especially quarantine and its

effects on many people's usual activities, routines or livelihoods - levels of loneliness, depression,

and self-harm or suicidal behaviour are also expected to rise.

That is why the researcher proposed a biophilic agritourism hotel and resort with recreational

facilities that will focus on designing a comfortable and safe haven for the users.

This study gives importance on the enhancement of Majayjay, Laguna proving its possible

growth on tourism by establishing agritourism hotel and resort. Costa Pacifico is a biophilic

agritourism hotel and resort with recreational facilities that will also give impact to the environment

and tourism of the municipality. It will also cater job opportunities to the community.

One of the challenges that the study will encounter is that the area has narrow and uneased

urban and rural access roads that leads to sluggish economic activities in poblacion and rural

barangays. The planning phase of the development will be carefully considered, so that the access

will not negatively affect the people and the project. The proposed agritourism hotel and resort will

be systematically planned with consideration to the environment and people.

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 CHAPTERI

The Problem and Its Background

1.1 Introduction

The almost complete suspension of international travel has been one of the major

elements of the quarantines introduced during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

pandemic. While this has brought misery for those who love to travel, it's brought

decimation for airlines, hotels, and tourism operators. The UNWTO has estimated that

Asia and the Pacific's tourism industry felt the largest negative impact from COVID-19,

with tourist arrivals down almost 33 million in the first trimester of 2020. The International

Labour Organization has called the impact ·devastating.•

Then, there are the environmental impacts. The pandemic has put rural areas

under pressure from changed land use, loss of biodiversity, and illegal poaching activities.

Fishing, mining, deforestation, and other illegal nature-based activities are on the rise.

Wrth the pandemic stretching hospital resources, biomedical waste is also increasing, as

is the use of single-use plastics for things like food, drinks, and deliveries.

With quarantines easing and flight schedules reforming, tourism is showing signs

of returning. In this regard, many tourist are looking for safe and nature friendly place to

stay with during their vacation. With a change of time, the meaning of hotel and resort has

changed and now it has been a commercial form of making money. Hotel and resort,

proposed here, is also a commercial tourist hotel and resort, which provides hospitality to

both internal as well as external tourism as it cannot depend wholly on foreigners, as there

is seasonal variance in incoming tourists. The agritourism hotel and resort will be located

in rural fringe, not very far from the core city so as it could serve urban people well and be

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their holiday destination. The good resort is that which plunge people, gives feelings of

intimacy, and never urge them to move away from its boundary.

Agritourism is a form of commercial enterprise that links agricultural production

and/or processing with tourism in order to attract visitors onto a farm, ranch, or other

agricultural business for the purposes of entertaining and/or educating the visitors and

generating Income for the farm, ranch, or business owner.

Agritourism presents a unique opportunity to combine aspects of the tourism and

agriculture industries to provide a number of financial, educational, and social benefits to

tourists, producers, and communities. Agritourism gives producers an opportunity to

generate additional income and an avenue for direct marketing to consumers. It enhances

the tourism industry by increasing the volume of visitors to an area and the length of their

stay. Agritourism also provides communities with the potential to increase their local tax

bases and new employment opportunities. Additionally, agritourism provides educational

opportunities to the public, helps to preserve agricultural lands, and allows states to

develop business enterprises. While agritourism may create new potential revenue

streams, it also presents new legal issues for farmers and landowners.

One most important thing Is that the resort will be focusing more on its services

which are provided through proper design of spaces and at the same time, it will be

concerning on the sustainability in architecture, of which the world is thirsty.

The research studyforuses in the development of the tourism of Majayjay, Laguna

through proposing agritourism hotel and resort which will apply a biophilic design and

sustainable design. Biophilic design is a method of increasing occupant connection to the

natural environment by including direct and indirect nature, as well as space and place

factors. It is suggested that this approach offers health, environmental, and economic

advantages for building occupants and urban settings when used at both the building and
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city scales. Sustainable design seeks to reduce negative impacts on the environment, and

the health and comfort of building occupants, thereby improving building perfonnance.

The basic objectives of sustainability are to reduce consumption of non-renewable

resources, minimize waste, and create healthy, productive environments. Also the project

will guarantee the municipality a fast growing economy of the city.

1.2 Background of the Study

Laguna is nestled in the foothills of three mountains namely, Mount Makiling,

Mount Banahaw, and Sierra Madre Range,that not only provide attraction for tourism

industry and sources of many forest-based products, but also serve as stewards for the

clean air that Laguna generously share. The soil is heaven for those seeking opportunities

in agriculture and horticulture given its richness and fertility.

The Province of Laguna was named after Laguna de Bay, the body of water that

forms its northern boundary. Laguna de Bay, in tum, was named after the town of Bay,

Laguna De Bay is a Spanish which means •Lake of bay•, the first province capital.

One of the municipalities of Laguna is Majayjay, it is considered as an agricultural

center of Laguna. Agriculture is a traditional economic base of Majayjay, the total

agricultural area is 4,978 hectares, 78% of the total land area. Agriculture is the major

source of income and that could be the reason why Majayjay is classified as an agricultural

municipality.

One of the goals of Majayjay is to strengthen the tourism industry of the

municipality, to promote satisfy tourism development in order to uplift the economic and

social development of the municipality, to enhance the municipality's tourist

drawing/attracting potentials, to conserve/preserve/improve the existing Roman Catholic

Church and Ennita, and to provide adequate facilities to tourist demands.

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 Majayjay is blessed with natural beauty considered to be of tourism potentials. The

cool climate and refreshing water abounding in the municipality provides serene and

relaxed atmosphere that city folks will surely enjoy.

The proposed project caters hotel, resort, agro tourism, etc. These amenities will

help promote tourism of the municipality.

1.3 Statement of the Problem

This study included five major problems and three minor problems which were

prepared to further offer insights to the major problem.

1.3.1 Major Problems

1.3.1.1 What is the best and appropriate design approach for the proposed

agritourism hotel and resort that can stand out from the existing resorts

within the area?

1.3.1.2 What are the new amenities that can be applied to the agritourism hotel

and resort that will attract local and foreign tourists?

1.3.1.3 How will the project affect the connected industries along the nearby

cities?

1.3.2 Minor Problems

1.3.2.1 What are the factors that can affect the design and development of the

proposed project?

1.3.2.2 How will the proposed project stand out from the rest?

1.3.2.3 What are the facilities needed to guarantee the tourist a more

comfortable, better and safe vacation?

1.4 Significance of the Study

Through this study, the proposed agritourism hotel and resort will enhance and

improve the municipality of Majayjay. It will also do well to the following:

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 To the citizens and local farmers of Majayjay, the proposed agritourism hotel and

resort will provide more job opportunities. The kind of job that a Majayjayeuno can easily

cope up with. The study will use principles and approaches that will also improve the

tourism industry.

To the municipality government of Majayjay, the study can help make use of the

findings to improve and preserve the natural resources of the municipality. These

developments can make the future tourists to be more attracted to the municipality.

To the future occupants of the proposed agritourism hotel and resort, the study will

provide a unusual resort with exciting and naturally based operation or activity and it will

also ensures the silence, peacefulness, the active form of rest in the natural environment,

and first and foremost the tight contact with the local people in the pleasant atmosphere.

To the Mure researchers may use the data and information for their related

studies. This study will contribute to share important details pertaining to biophilic hotel

and resort developments and application to the design proper. This study can be a tool for

researchers to improve the municipality of Majayjay.

1.5 Objectives of the Study

This is divided into two parts such as the project objectives and the design

objectives. This topic is presented for readers to see why the study is conducted.

1.5.1 Project Objectives

The aim of the work is to create a sustainable agritourism hotel and resort

that will not only attain sustainable structures as well as the improvement of the

surrounding area and the preservation of the resources. The study objectives consist of:

1.5.1.1 To support the Philippines tourism industry enticing foreign and local

tourists.

1.5.1.2 To endorse an eco friendly structure for the sake of the environment

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1.5.1.3 To provide a high standard of services suitable for individuals seeking

relaxing, comfortable and memorable experiences in the hospitality and

tourism industry.

1.5.1.4 To deal with the tourism industry demands through providing a

renowned tourist accommodation that will help the country's economic

development

1.5.1.5 To give more job opportunities for the people of Majayjay, Laguna.

1.5.2 Design Objectives

The study is projected to provide an advanced approach in implementing design

applications that will result to a sustainable agro tourism resort the following objectives

include provident considerations and goals to be accomplished:

1.5.2.1 To preserve the natural resources of the site.

1.5.2.2 To respond to climatic and energy consumption issues raised by

present day architecture through eco-sensitive design.

1.5.2.3 To use the scenery, natural resources and landscape in the design

proper.

1.5.2.4 To incorporate agriculture and recreation where people can enjoy and

explore the entire farm, and at the same time, they will get knowledge

from agriculture.

1.5.2.5 To provide eco-friendly materials and well-organized spaces for the

future occupants of the hotel and resort.

1.5.2.6 To consider the effects and benefits of natural environment, to the area

and the proposed project

1.5.2.7 To incorporate the functionality, aesthetic, accessibility, and flexibility

of the design to its users.

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 1.6 Theoretical Framework

"I don1 think that architecture is only about shelter, is only about a very simple

enclosure. It should be able to excite you, to calm you, to make you think. n

-Zaha Hadid

"Study nature, love nature, stays close to nature. It will never fail you."

- Frank Lloyd Wright

Architecture is a design method that is not only teaching us how to build buildings and

make the best aesthetics. Architecture let us know how to properly utilize and preserved

our nature and appreciates the things that it could bring to the future generations

1.7 Conceptual Framework

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Design Concept

Organic Architecture
(form)

Universal Design
(plan)

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 CHAPTER II

Review of Related Literature

2.1.1 Foreign Researches

Figure 2.0 Grand Mirage Resort and Thalasso Bali, Bali, Indonesia
Source: https://www .grandmirag e.com/en/al l-inclusive/

This luxurious hotel is located directly on the Tanjung Benoa peninsula, in the south of

Bali, close to the pretty sandy beach. Those with a desire to do plenty of shopping, dining in

restaurants or enjoying the entertainment options, are able to easily reach Nusa Dua with the

regular shuttle bus, located around 2 km away. This location includes the tourist area with the

most frequented region on the island. Nevertheless, it is able to preserve its separate cultural

identity and allure Facilities. The hotel was built in 1993. Guests can enjoy a pleasant stay in

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2.1.2 Local Research es

I•

Figure 5.0 Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club, Nasugbu, Batangas
Source: https://www.picodeloroclub.com/about-us/

Pico de Laro Cove is a premium leisure resort located in Nasugbu, Batangas and is

popularly known for its pristine white sand beach, luxurious beach lifestyle, world-clas s

facilities and amenities, and prestigious beach homes. Composed of eight mid-rise residential

buildings in four clusters - Jacana, Myna, Carola, and Miranda -Pico de Loro Cove's Lagoon

Property Series surround a four-hecta re saltwater man-made lagoon. Durable and weather-

resistant materials were used in the buildings allowing easy upkeep. Round the clock security,

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2.1.4 Local Studies

Las Clas
Source: Thesis Proposal: "A Proposed Baler Bay Watersports Complex with Hotel and
Resort Facilities"

While adventurism has been recognized as a global trend, Philippines has been

catering to this demand as a way of life - being blessed with mountains, caves, white waters,

beaches, rivers, water falls, name it, the Philippines has the most of it! Baler has plenty to

offer when it comes to sporting, adventure and recreations. Watersports Complex provides

exercises and trills while being close to nature, an advantage in a country with scenic places

and a great diversity of sea creatures. There are also plenty of exciting activities to engage in

on the Philippines many lakes, rivers, seas and waterfalls as well as its coastal waters. Playing

in the whitecaps is common in the Philippines where there is a stretch of sandy coastline. For

all those adventurous types who love that adrenaline rush, cable riding water sports like

wakeboarding, water-skiing, wake skating and knee boarding, which are new in Philippines,

is a thrilling option. Nothing can match the excitement and enthusiasm that the water sporting

activities can offer. When people are stressed, pressured, and tired they gaze for a place

where they can relax, feel free, be contented, unwind, and escape from life's ventures, hassle

routines, and stressful schedules. Water sports are complete line in wake board cable systems

for beginner, advanced, and private sessions. All necessary equipment is available on site

and guests are sure not to fail. If desired, coaches can provide lessons in wake boarding

behind the boat or cable, wake surfing, water skiing and wake skating. The coaches can ride

alongside beginners for extra comfort and instruction as well. These sports are fun for all ages.

Families can do swimming, kayaking, play water volleyball and water polo. Labelled as one of

the prime tourist destinations, Philippines is famed for its good people, scenic places and its

natural ability to attract tourists and can be developed as time passes by. In addition,

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