sustainable tourism practices in boracay

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The successful rehabilitation of Boracay Island in the Philippines leads the way for environmentally conscious tourism

The Philippines | Tourism

One of the Philippines’ most popular holiday destinations, Boracay is an example of how tourism growth can have negative effects if it is not handled correctly. An island covering 10.3 sq km, Boracay hosted one-third of all the country’s visitors in 2017. Unchecked development, insufficient waste water treatment facilities and overpopulation led to an emergency task force finding widespread environmental violations. The majority of sewerage facilities were draining waste into the sea and polluting the water. In order to rehabilitate the island, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered its closure to tourists for six months on April 26, 2018.

The announcement of Boracay’s closure was met by concern from local businesses about the impact on the island and its residents. Immediate action taken within the industry included airlines scaling back flights and the closure of 900 establishments that violated regulations, such as the demolition of establishments within 30 metres of the shoreline. As a result, 30,000 people lost their jobs, sparking concerns about the long-term impact of the closure on the community. However, the Department of Labour and Employment provided support packages in the form of financial assistance to informal sector workers and training for formal sector workers to enhance their employability. More than P507.1m ($9.4m) worth of compensation had been distributed as of February 2019.

Positive Performance

Although industry leaders feared the economic impact of the closure, as Boracay accounted for 20% of the country’s tourism revenue, the effects have not been as severe as expected. Although the Department of Tourism (DOT) scaled down the arrivals target in late 2018, a record 7.1m visitors came to the country that year. The closure of Boracay encouraged a surge in the marketing of new destinations, showcasing a variety of different islands.

When Boracay reopened in October 2018, steps were taken to prevent further damage and ensure visitors respect the environment. Smoking and alcohol are prohibited on the beach and in public areas, and a maximum allowance of 19,000 tourists and 15,000 workers has been imposed to ensure the island’s capacity is not exceeded. There are also strict environmental accreditation procedures in place for hotels and resorts. “The closure showed we are serious about protecting our natural resources and minimising environmental impact, and that we are focused on preserving and highlighting the beauty of our country for generations,” Jhaytee Wong, executive vice-president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, told OBG.

New Benchmark

Boracay has become the model for sustainable tourism, and the success of the rehabilitation programme is a potential springboard for establishing a culture of environmentally conscious tourism across the country. The National Tourism Development Plan 2016-22 was revised to improve environmental protection guidelines. According to local media reports, similar rehabilitation programmes have been proposed for Manila Bay, El Nido, Panglao, Siargao, Sagada and Baguio to ensure that other popular destinations meet the environmental standards of the new Boracay.

In February 2019 the government launched the Manila Bay Task Force as part of a cross-ministerial effort to enforce environmental regulations and improve water quality. Having a budget of P2bn ($37.2m), it aims to make the water at Manila Bay safe for swimming by end-2019. Waste water treatment facilities in Metro Manila will also be upgraded, demonstrating the current administration’s commitment to sustainable tourism. “We are trying to encourage corporate social responsibility, so we are highlighting destinations that practise green tourism,” Mavic Sevilla, head of corporate planning and business development at the DOT’s Tourism Promotions Board, told OBG.

The positive effects of Boracay’s temporary closure look set to continue in terms of promoting a diversified offering of destinations, and encouraging sustainable practices and the rehabilitation of over-saturated areas.

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DOT LAUDS PARTNERSHIP MODEL FOR SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN BORACAY

“The partnership of the public and private sector to ensure the safety and sustainability of tourism should be a model for other island destinations in the country,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said during the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force BIATF meeting in Boracay on June 11, 2020.

“What we saw today is the concerted effort on the part of the Local Government of Malay, Aklan, the various stakeholders and even those outside of the island to show ensuring the safety of visitors to the island is a collective responsibility of everyone,” Secretary Puyat further noted.

Let me take this opportunity to thank the Makati Medical Center group for its assistance in recently providing the Ciriaco S. Tirol Hospital and Boracay Clinic with various medical equipment and in training the local medical staff. Meanwhile, I’d also like to thank the Filinvest City Foundation, in partnership with Crimson Hotel Boracay, for donating an RT-PCR machine which will be housed in the Covid-19 Laboratory being completed at the Dr. Rafael Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo.

Now, in-light of the extension, it is the BIATF’s goal to not only strike a balance between economic gains and social responsibilities but also on safety, health and sanitation. Let us not undo the gains we have achieved last year. Just as Boracay helped the country bring in more than 8 million foreign tourists in 2019, it will once again be a key component in reviving tourism in light of the pandemic.

Last year, Boracay was a model of sustainable tourism. This time, let us work hand-in-hand to make it a model of safe travel as well. We will open our doors to tourism slowly but surely. And slowly but surely, we will recover as one,” she added.

Published:March 10, 2021

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DOT: PH to accept fully-vaxxed tourists from visa-free countries starting Feb. 10

DOT supports ‘Pharmacy and Drive-thru Vaccination Sites’ rollout in Baguio City

DOT Launches “ASMR Experience the Philippines” Project

Dot to hold 2-day conference on english as second language (esl).

PH cities, hotels bag ASEAN tourism awards

Booster shots rolled out for fully vaxxed tourism workers; 50% of NCR hotel staff already “boosted”

DOT trains over 30,000 tourism professionals amid pandemic

Dot welcomes eased travel movement between gcq and mgcq areas for tourism revival, hotel in ‘poblacion girl” fiasco suspended, fined, intramuros gives vulnerable population a breathing space, dot launches website with exclusive travel deals for balikbayans.

Anilao Underwater Shootout stages a successful comeback

DOT’s KAIN NA! makes a comeback in Tagaytay

Dot earns unwto citation for have a safe trip, pinas ad.

Brgy. Bojo in Aloguinsan, Cebu bags UNWTO best tourism village award

More than 95% of tourism workers in dive establishments already vaccinated against covid-19: dot.

DOT: PHL to welcome Int’l tourists soon

Dot welcomes shortened quarantine days for balikbayans, dot asks lgus to simplify entry requirements in tourist spots, miceconnect 2021 positions boracay as asia’s premier bleisure destination, dot releases latest list of domestic destinations waiving rt-pcr tests for fully vaxxed visitors, dot grants incentives to fully vaccinated individuals visiting intramuros.

Statement of the DOT on waiving RT-PCR requirement to Boracay for fully vaxxed tourists

Anilao underwater ‘shootout’ is back

Puyat, dot execs pitch ph tourism in japan travel mart, dot welcomes eased restrictions in mm under alert level 2, free swab tests for domestic tourists starting nov. 1, dot lists destinations without testing requirement, with projected 100% inoculation rate by next month, boracay will soon waive rt-pcr testing for fully vaxxed visitors.

Domestic Travel Welcome-Back: DOT, TPB launch ‘It’s More Fun with You’ ad and ‘Have a Safe Trip, Pinas’ Viber Stickers

22 divers pass dot guide training in anilao.

PH cited Asia’s top beach and dive destination anew in 2021 World Travel Awards

Dot bullish on camiguin’s reopening, boosts covid-19 vax drive, dot clarifies travel guidelines for ncr residents under alert level 4, alert level 3, good for tourism jobs and businesses as holidays near – puyat, 2nd tourism & technology forum: readying for a different future.

DOT vaccination drive for tourism workers continues in Pampanga

Dot welcomes easing of age restrictions for interzonal travel, less quarantine days for travelers an ‘encouraging development’ for tourism industry – puyat.

Vaccination of Rizal tourism workers crucial to industry’s recovery — DOT

Dot welcomes siargao, palawan and boracay win in int’l travel mag awards, over 43k safety seals issued as more businesses apply, dot backs call to shorten quarantine of fully vaxxed travelers, dot calls for cooperation to ensure success of expanded operational capacity of restaurants in ncr.

DOT lauds Samar LGU vax drive for tourism workers

Message of secretary berna romulo-puyat on the celebration of world tourism day, dot ensures compliance of accredited hotels, resorts to new iatf alert level system guidelines.

Cebu vax drive for tourism workers gains traction with more than 50% inoculated

Puyat bares phl hosting of international tourism conference in march 2022.

DOT and TikTok launch #GandaMoPinas Campaign as local borders reopen

Dot invites esl teachers to free online master tesol certification course.

DOT launches “More Fun Awaits” global campaign to showcase travel preps

Statement of the department of tourism (dot), statement of the department of tourism on the inclusion of palawan in t+l’s top islands in asia, world list, more than 50% of country’s tourism workers vaccinated against covid-19 – dot chief, intramuros site visit of dot secretary berna romulo-puyat.

Intramuros sites and Rizal Park to reopen September 16

Philippines boosts participation in expo 2020 dubai, highlights pinoy food, local tourism businesses receive dot, tpb philcare kits.

DOT, partner agencies drive up promotion of Filipino food experience

More than 7.5k tourism workers in Baguio have received Covid vax – Tourism Chief

Dot, tpb distribute p19m worth of materials to promote safety protocols.

DOT, NTF bring vaccination rollout for tourism workers in Siargao Island

DOT: 95% of tourism workers in NCR vaxxed vs Covid-19

Sustainability is key to tourism industry’s recovery — puyat, dot lauds private sector for vaccine rollout in el nido.

PHITEX 2021: Beyond Business slated for September 19-23

Puyat leads vaccination drive for Pampanga tourism workers

More than 75% of Bohol tourism workers eyed for inoculation with second vaccine roll-out

More than 70% of tourism frontliners in metro manila vaccinated vs covid-19 — puyat.

DOT and TPB SUCCESSFULLY STAGED FIRST-EVER HYBRID EDITION OF THE REGIONAL TRAVEL FAIR

Dot, bpos to hold job fair, statement of the department of tourism.

DOT targets increased inoculation of tourism workers in more destinations

Puyat: More vaccines coming for Palawan tourism workers

Dot statement on nesthy petecio’s silver medal finish in the tokyo 2020 olympics, rizal park drive-thru vax site opens; puyat hails manila’s anti-covid initiative, dot gets highest coa rating for 2nd straight year, statement of the department of tourism on the passing of heritage and cultural tourism advocate mr. ramon hofileña, statement of the department of tourism (dot) on the heightened community quarantine level implementations in ncr, more tourism workers in boracay to receive covid-19 jabs – dot, dot reiterates call for safe travel amid stricter quarantine measure, dot reminds hotels, resorts that room sharing for quarantined families is allowed, dot celebrates siargao inclusion in time magazine as one of the world’s greatest places of 2021, dot launches halal food tourism, dot backs gov’t infra program to boost tourism, dot backs iloilo bid for ‘creative city of gastronomy’ recognition from unesco, statement of the department of tourism on iatf decision allowing children five years old and above, and fully vaccinated seniors to visit outdoor areas, dot partners with viber to promote kain na foodfest, dot: 3,000 boracay tourism workers to receive covid vax, dot, tpb continues to support lgus with digital transformation projects, dot teams up with scarlet belo and cartoon network to take safe trips, dot statement on the activities of the taal volcano, bakuna by the sea: dot hails davao’s innovative approach to travel, hospitality workers, dot, tpb to roll out 2nd phase of rt-pcr financial subsidy program through pcmc, dot unveils region 1 tourism recovery plan, statement of the department of tourism on the drop of tourism contribution to gdp, dot to co-stage virtual fête de la musique june 18-21, more ncr tourism workers receive support through dot-dole program, travel for tourists of all ages from ncr plus to boracay, other mgcq areas extended to june 30, dot eyes inoculation of 5,000 bohol tourism workers, museums in ncr plus to reopen on limited capacity – dot, dot turns food tourism to high heat with 2021 kain na, terms for tourism business loans eased, dot bares tourism recovery plans for bulacan, dot and tiktok launch #sarapmagingpinoy campaign to promote local food tourism, dot launches five-year plan to develop tourism professionals, dot celebrates world environment month, highlights responsible marine wildlife interactions, statement of the department of tourism (dot) on the rt-pcr requirement for leisure travelers under iatf-eid resolution 118a, statement of the dot on iatf-eid resolution 118a, more than 16k bulacan tourism workers get dot-dole cash aid, dot orders stricter monitoring of staycation hotels and aes in gcq areas following new iatf guidelines, dot lauds inclusion of frontline tourism workers in a1 priority group, dot hosts pata summit for first hybrid mice event in 2021, over 1,400 golf workers in metro manila get dot-dole cash aid.

Central Luzon to Showcase ‘Flavors of Pampanga’, readies tourists for gastronomic experience

Dot lauds ph hotels recognized with the 2021 tripadvisor awards, 3,390 tourism workers in marinduque approved to receive p16.95m dot-dole cash aid, puyat bares tourism recovery plans for marinduque, dot proposes ‘green lane’ for fully vaccinated travelers, dot hails expansion of priority vaccination to a4 cluster, including tourism frontliners, 5,986 staycation rooms open for guests from ncr plus, intramuros to open fort santiago, baluarte de san diego to visitors may 17, dot statement on the proposed vaccination center in nayong pilipino, dot welcomes iatf decision to ease travel in ncr plus, 221m cash aid approved for 44k tourism workers in western visayas, statement of the department of tourism (dot) on the collected garbage from the waters of samal island, davao del norte, statement of the department of tourism (dot) on the reported violations of a hotel in davao city, dot to host hybrid pata annual event for adventure travel, p1.5m cash aid approved for 295 intramuros tourism workers, updates on the vaccination of tourism workers, labor day vax for tourism workers, more than 400k displaced tourism workers get dot-dole cash aid, philippine tourism and mice industry to bounce back with the hosting of wttc global summit, dot, manila lgu ink mobile hospital deal, dot-accredited establishment staysafe.ph-users, eligible for safety seal certification, dot grants the wttc safe travels stamp to 33 more hotels nationwide, dot welcomes proposals to convert tourism sites to temporary medical facilities, dot lauds repurposed hotels, calls for ‘bayanihan’ vs covid, dot approves use of burnham green and quirino grandstand in rizal park for temporary mobile hospital and drive-thru vaccination site, dot celebrates saud beach inclusion in the 25 most beautiful beaches in the world list of travel and leisure, 67k displaced tourism workers of ncr+ receive dot-dole cash aid, statement of the department of tourism on the vaccination facility in nayong pilipino property, statement of the department of tourism regarding the alleged birthday “super spreader” event in boracay, dot eyes adoption of covid-19 digital travel pass, dot statement on ecq extension in ncr plus, phl, dot nominated at asia edition of 2021 world travel awards, dot pushes for inclusion of other tourism workers in priority group a4, strict new guidelines set for hotels under ecq; lenten ‘staycations’ within ncr plus suspended, dot statement on ecq for ncr+ areas, dot statement on holy week, rizal park and paco park adjust visiting hours, remain open for physical exercise, dot statement on biatf measures for boracay, tpb philippines spearheads tourism and technology forum (ttf), dot statement on coron tourist with falsified travel documents, dot supports rizal tourism circuit on food, faith, art, adventure and nature, the ‘fun’ continues: philippines joins digital itb berlin, dot to spur domestic tourism in rizal, dot’s stdp program to enhance resiliency of phl destinations – puyat, dot sustains online presence with ‘wake up in ph’ campaign and safety travel advisories, dot greenlights partial operations of hotel restaurants on june 15, dot eyes tourism recovery as more destinations may reopen, domestic travel to drive recovery of tourism industry, says survey, dot hails revival of tourist cops, tourism will recover well, dot chief vows, dot celebrates hidden beach, palawan’s inclusion in cnt’s best beaches in the world, tourism industry hikes share in gdp to 13%; puyat sees strong recovery from pandemic, dot pushes stringent guidelines for stakeholders across the nation, biatf denounces travelers’ breach of entry protocol to boracay, dot issues guidelines on tourist land transport services, iatf–eid resolution reiterates ‘dot certificate of authority’ as requisite to operate, dot issues protocols on restaurant operations under the new normal, dot welcomes ph ‘rising stars in travel’ citation by forbes.com, dot, dti to roll out health and safety guidelines, digital solutions for restaurants, dot, attached agencies promote digital tourism, tourism chief reminds hotels, resorts: no dot certificate, no business operations during mgcq, dot assists 36,000 tourists during covid-19 crisis, dot webinar tackles digital as the new normal, dot welcomes the resumption of tourism operations in areas under mgcq, trust and health safety key to phl tourism recovery – dot chief, puyat on reopening tourism: ‘do it slowly but surely’, dot brings home 84 tourists stranded in eastern visayas, dot supports coron’s sustainable tourism development to bounce back, dot welcomes puerto princesa reopening to domestic tourists, dot urges for more wttc safe travels stamp applications, boracay’s white beach, el nido’s nacpan beach among tripadvisor’s top beaches in asia, dot statement on uniform travel protocols, dot supports the safe reopening of negros oriental, puyat affirms support for siquijor’s reopening, dot statement on el nido’s swift action against tourists with false covid test records, dot supports dilg’s streamlining of travel requirements, dot assists 98 stranded tourists in western mindanao, dot assists 246 tourists stranded in bicol, dot response team assists 1004 tourists stranded in caraga region, statement of tourism secretary bernadette romulo-puyat, dot8 springs stranded tourists, total assisted travelers now at 11,000, dot assists stranded tourists in central luzon, dot response teams assist over 10,000 travelers, dot announces the guidelines on hotels and other accommodation establishments during the enhanced community quarantine, dot chief: innovation to spur food tourism in new normal, dot webinar tackles heritage site conservation and use amid pandemic, dot banners “filipino brand of service”; assists over 35,000 tourists amid pandemic, dot to jumpstart domestic tourism under stricter protocols with iatf and lgus, dot partners with wttc to share experts’ tourism outlook, recovery plans, dot regulates hotel food deliveries, dot: tourism industry up to tough challenges on path to recovery, more than 155,000 tourism sector workers receive first tranche of dof wage subsidy program, dot mounts sweeper flights; brings home 1000 stranded domestic tourists, dot webinar tackles recovery, future of phl’s m.i.c.e., statement of the department of tourism (dot) on the iatf–eid authorization to mount sweeper flights, statement of secretary bernadette romulo puyat on the passing of former dot secretary ramon jimenez, jr., dot–ncr assists 24,000 in–transit nationals amid ecq of luzon, dot and ssi support philippine food producers in online philippine harvest, dot provides virtual backgrounds for video calls to encourage “travel from home”, dot offers online “enhanced opportunity” training for tourism stakeholders, dot-region 6 delivers filipino brand of service in crisis, dot outlines tourism response, post–covid 19 recovery plan to aid private sector, dot issues guidelines defining “new normal” for accommodation establishments, 24,836 hotel rooms reserved for ofws’ quarantine, bpo staff use – dot chief, stranded tourists welcome extended stay in batanes, dot welcomes lifting of travel ban for outbound passengers, recovery flights, tourism transport to continue for stranded passengers, statement of the department of tourism (dot) on covid-19 local transmission, dot statement on the curfew recommendation for lgus, dot, turkish airlines form partnership to increase philippine tourism from europe and mediterranean source markets, dot celebrates first run of the philippine international hot air balloon fiesta in calabarzon, puyat convenes tourism council; invites public to travel within ph, international visitor receipts hit usd 9.31b in 2019, 20.81% up from 2018, dot postpones nationwide mall sale to prioritize safety of citizens, department of tourism unveils new ad inspired by the abakada alphabet, highlighting unique filipino culture, puyat advocates for cultural and ecotourism in the new normal, relive the history of intramuros city with augmented reality app experience philippines, dot: 1st phl shopping fest kicks off march 1st, doh, dilg and dot give public gatherings green light, 2019 international arrivals exceed target with 8.26 million visitors to the philippines, dot welcomes lifting of taiwan travel ban, joint statement of the department of tourism and tourism congress of the philippines, dot backs “balik sa bohol” for tourism industry revival, intramuros reopens in the new normal, relaxed and standard health protocols, personalized trips key to tourism recovery, says latest philippine travel survey, dot files falsification raps against boracay tourists with forged covid test results, dot: reclassification of industries to hasten recovery, dot statement following the president’s latest directive to contain the ncov, guidelines in handling guests in tourism enterpises in the advent of ncov global health emergency, puyat eyes isabela as top agro-ecotourism destination, dot, dti inspect hotels and restaurants’ compliance with health and safety protocols, dot chief checks readiness of palawan, fresh produce at your doorstep, courtesy of dot–grab tie–up, dot ‘seal of good housekeeping’ boosts confidence among restos amid pandemic – puyat, dot celebrates as palawan reclaims best island in the world citation, tourism chief bullish on english schools’ recovery, dot, fao team up for sustainable farm tourism in ph, meetings, conventions allowed only under mgcq at 50% capacity – dot, boracay now open to youths, seniors from region, dot chief lauds senate approval of bayanihan 2 on final reading, cites plans for 10b stimulus fund, “think out of the box,” tourism industry urged in dot webinar, dot assures tourist stakeholders of all–out support for slow reopening, puyat meets with bohol execs to tackle tourism situation, recovery plans, dot, cloud panda ph launches phl harvest e-commerce site, statement of dot, dot to scale up baguio’s ridge to reef travel bubble plan across phl, dot celebrates “surprisingly spectacular diving” tag of 3 phl dive sites by lonely planet, phl bags best overseas diving award 2020, statement of department of tourism, dot’s phidex 2020 goes digital, dot-dole amended jmc further expands coverage of beneficiaries, dot welcomes new protocols for arriving passengers, dot bats for a more fun, safe and sustainable laguna, dot chief: green corridors are critical to tourism recovery, dot statement on destination test requirements, dot statement on boracay tourists, dot welcomes asean as a single tourism destination, iatf allows baguio hotels to receive domestic tourists under gcq, raising the bar of filipino hospitality with the leadership excellence series 2021, dot lauds inclusion of tourism frontliners in priority group for vaccination, dot’s ‘kain na’ cooks up online food fest, phl hosts 3rd asean meet on tourism professionals; dot commits to beef up competency of tourism workforce in the new normal, safety marshalls to ensure physical distancing when beaches, resorts reopen, 10,000 bpo jobs for displaced tourism workers, zero interest loans, no collateral, easy terms for distressed tourism businesses, puyat to grace baguio reopening; dot to go big on domestic tourism in 2021, chocolate, coffee, tea take centerstage in dot’s kain na food festival, dot receives safetravels stamp from world tourism body, puyat launches baguio’s vis.i.t.a. platform, reopening of boracay to more markets builds momentum for domestic tourism revival, puyat: even in most unusual ways, tourism must stay alive, message of tourism secretary bernadette romulo-puyat on the celebration of the world tourism day, dot statement on the city garden grand hotel, dot chief supports negrense cookbook launch, vows continued support to thriving food tourism scene in western visayas, dot statement on the closure of makati shangri-la hotel, dot pledges to help negros occidental get ready for more domestic tourists, dot welcomes the first two recipients of the wttc safe travel stamp, dot statement on baguio party incident, dot welcomes iatf decision to allow balikbayans, dot launches “have a safe trip, pinas” to promote safe travels and support tourism workers, dot celebrates ph’s victory as world’s leading dive destination and tourist attraction for intramuros in 2020, dot welcomes coron’s reopening on dec. 1 with health and safety measures in place, dot aims for data-driven response to tourism recovery under new normal with survey, dot backs enhanced contact tracing; announces low-cost covid tests with up-pgh for boracay-bound tourists, puyat encourages affected tourism workforce to avail of the expanded dot-dole financial assistance, dot welcomes strides to reboot mice, puyat visits batangas, shores up dive tourism, statement of the dot on cebu resort incident, dot presents virtual concert to promote manila’s cultural heritage sites, dot, makatimed foundation forge partnership for tourism destination health security, dot launches webinar training on reducing single-use plastics for hospitality sector, dot to assist zambales in safe and gradual tourism reopening, dot bats for uniform lgu travel requirements, dot, tpb promote pinoy christmas through music, dot’s 2020 kain na satisfies christmas cravings on fourth leg, dot’s 2020 kain na satisfies christmas cravings on fourth leg, dot prepares local destinations, accommodation establishments for wttc safe travels stamp application, 27,000 displaced tourism workers of car receive dot-dole financial assistance, dot backs temporary suspension of flights from uk, dot inspires balikbayans to come home with ‘balikan ang pilipinas’ campaign, dot, tpb expand rt-pcr financial subsidy program for 11,600 tourists through pcmc, dot reiterates penalties for quarantine hotels used for staycation and other purposes, dot supports strict entry protocols in light of new covid-19 variant, dot reiterates rule on staycation hotels, dot celebrates boracay and palawan inclusion in conde nast’s 25 best island beaches in the world list, dot issues guidelines for safe ‘staycation’, dot accreditation goes digital, boracay reopens, heralds “safe, gradual” revival of philippine tourism, dot gets coa’s highest rating on 2019 audit, dot sees domestic tourism boom in baguio with affordable antigen testing, phl islands named top favorites by int’l travel magazine, dot welcomes reopening of ilocos norte to luzon tourists on oct 15, dot funds rt-pcr testing of boracay tourism workers, dot inks tourism “cares for travel” msme loan program with sb corp, health, safety rules drawn up for recreational diving, batangas now open to divers – dot, puyat reminds ‘staycation hotels’ to follow rules, protocols, dot welcomes baguio city’s opening to guests from luzon starting oct. 22, dot statement on the opening of ilocos sur starting nov 15, ridge and reef corridor heralds domestic tourism recovery, puyat – hotels in gcq, mgcq may now be allowed to operate at full capacity, pra to amend retirement policies, suspends processing of srrv applications, dot supports expansion of palawan’s travel bubble starting oct. 30, tourism chief bats for covid-19 tests price cap, dot urges tourism businesses to avail of sb corp’s covid-19 loan program, dot leadership excellence series returns anew, dot statement on the inclusion of palawan and boracay in big 7 travel’s list of 50 most beautiful places, dot, tpb launch official philippine travel app, dot, dole agree on guidelines for cash-for-work program for displaced tourism workers, tour guides, dot’s kain na takes on food trips for november, intramuros is now asia’s leading tourist attraction the philippines and dot receive accolades at the 2020 world travel awards asia winners day, statement of the department of tourism on prrd’s signing of eo 118, dot inks mou on tourism education, training, dot partners with nissan to promote ‘safe trips’, dot allows operation of 7,200 hotels, resorts, dot lauds ibagiw 2020, baguio’s creative city festival, dot welcomes reopening of phl’s surfing capital, siargao, ridge and reef travel corridor expands to ilocos sur, dot chief visits baguio city, touts cultural tourism with creative crawls, sec. puyat to grace 2020 bambanti festival, dot allocates p340.7m for iloilo tourism infrastructure development, tourist arrivals mark 7.4m in november, up by 15.58%, safety of tourists is dot’s top priority – sec. puyat, dot, cab collaborate to enhance air passenger’s bill of rights, statement of the department of tourism, 2nd statement of the department of tourism, dot thanks smart for emergency satellite phones, dot–dotr meet to boost tourism infra, connectivity; puyat to push approval of 1b for night–rated airports, dot chief to visit, vows to revitalize baguio, tourism chief: phl one with asean in responding to covid crisis.

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Partnerships Towards Sustainability: The Revival of Boracay’s Wetlands

• First Online: 22 February 2022

Cite this chapter

• Giovanni Francis A. Legaspi 5 &
• Edieser D. L. Dela Santa 5  

Part of the book series: Perspectives on Asian Tourism ((PAT))

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The past decade has seen significant growth in the tourism and hospitality literature on corporate social responsibility (CSR). However, limited literature exists on public and private partnerships in the revival of tourist destinations, with no cash outlay from the government, towards sustainable tourism development. This case study addresses this gap by looking into how government agencies and private organizations, through their CSR, worked together to rehabilitate Boracay wetlands. The focus is on the rehabilitation of the nine wetlands, and in particular wetland number 2 into a conservation park that features endemic tree and animal species rescued from extinction.

In the process, the chapter identifies antecedents that lead to the involvement of particular organizations and stakeholders. It highlights traditional values and the primacy of the family , in pushing CSR onto the agenda. It accentuates the enabling function of the state and the importance of partnerships as mechanisms for CSR delivery. It is argued that considering all these factors, underpinned by social learning, lead to a good understanding of CSR for the environment in the Philippines and assist in ascertaining the place and trajectory of corporate social responsibility for sustainability among businesses in the Asian region.

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Legaspi, G.F.A., Dela Santa, E.D.L. (2022). Partnerships Towards Sustainability: The Revival of Boracay’s Wetlands. In: Selvaranee Balasingam, A., Ma, Y. (eds) Asian Tourism Sustainability. Perspectives on Asian Tourism. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5264-6_2

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Lessons from Boracay: The Philippines’ quest for sustainable tourism

Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly

“The Boracay experience is the ultimate lesson in balancing development and protecting the environment. The lessons learned here are not for Boracay alone but also for the other island destinations around our beautiful country,” tourism chief Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in her speech as she welcomed tourists to the newly-reopened Boracay.

Boracay, the Philippines’ crown jewel, was closed to tourists for six months to undergo rehabilitation after the president himself, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, called the island a “cesspool” brought about by overtourism and improper waste management.

The island was once hailed as the best island in the world in 2012 by Travel + Leisure magazine and the White Beach was a consistent placeholder in TripAdvisor’s annual Travelers’ Choice Awards that ranks the best beaches in the world. However, the decline was evident. Last year, the island slipped to 24th place from 12th and 7th in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Boracay has attracted two million tourists last year, according to Nikkei Asian Review. The tourism industry is one of the Philippines’ money making sectors and accounted for 11% of the country’s earnings in 2017 and 5.3 million people are reportedly working in tourism.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

Many stakeholders lauded the president’s “political will” to shut down Boracay. Despite many years of neglect and abuse, no one wants to kill the goose that lays the golden egg, but the government this time was adamant to clean the island.

The closure of Boracay is one of the rare moments when Filipinos came together. Amidst the doubt and fear, the government, travel companies, business owners, residents and tourists joined hands to fix and make the island an epitome of sustainable tourism.

“Bayanihan – a concept that is uniquely Filipino, which refers to the spirit of communal unity, work and cooperation to achieve a particular goal.”

Bayanihan – a concept that is uniquely Filipino, which refers to the spirit of communal unity, work and cooperation to achieve a particular goal – was in full display.

Reduced flights

While the government was hard at work for the rehabilitation, airlines suspended flights during the six months moratorium and after the reopening, they lessened the flights to Caticlan (Boracay Airport) and Kalibo as their own way to regulate the flow of tourists.

View this post on Instagram Heading to #BoracayReopening and I saw this on my window. @cebupacificair loading the garbage bins it donated to the island. #juaneffect #sustainabletourism @traveldailyhq A post shared by Kristin Mariano (@techjunkie123) on Oct 26, 2018 at 12:22am PDT

Budget airline Cebu Pacific launched the Juan Effect, which is its sustainable tourism program, aiming to increase awareness on sustainable tourism and being a responsible tourist. Every travel starts with the airline. As its first initiative, the airline donated hundreds of garbage bins to Boracay to encourage proper waste disposal.

Electric vehicles

Going around the island is greener than ever, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Grab, and Southwest Travel and Tours all launched electric-powered vehicles to reduce the carbon footprint. DOTr will replace the old tricycles with 200 e-trikes and Grab will operate an e-Jeepney to answer sustainable mobility in the island.

Southwest Travel and Tours, that has been operating in the island for 25 years, just launched its solar-powered vehicles for its door-to-door rides. According to Celeen Denise Sazon, product development manager of Southwest, “Right now, a mix of the old vans and solar-powered vehicles is in operation, but using 100% electric vehicles is the dream.”

“Apart from our vehicles, we are also building our green office, which will be powered by solar panels as well. Through this, we are trying to protect the environment and the island,” Celeen told me in our exclusive interview.

Regulating themselves

Hotels adopted sustainable practices to do their part. Huge hotels are now required to have their own STP to lessen the load of the island’s STP in Bulabog Beach. Compliant hotel operators created an alliance – Compliant Association of Boracay – to regulate themselves as their own initiative to keep watch on each other and theirs sustainable practices.

Bulabog Beach was where the infamous sewage pipe used to be located. Construction of STP is still ongoing pic.twitter.com/6AqEwXFhmo — Travel Daily (TD) (@TravelDailyHQ) October 27, 2018

“It cannot be denied that Boracay needed saving from years of neglect and abuse… Through our collective efforts, we reclaimed Boracay. As business owners, we recommitted to complying with the environmental standards and to preserving this island as our crown jewel – now and for generations to come,” said Fiona Lauren Molina, representative of hotel stakeholders.

“These past six months made a lifetime of difference. Having seen and been part of the rehabilitation efforts, we have a deeper appreciation of our pristine white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and, most importantly, the hard work needed to keep them this way,” Molina added.

Increased awareness

There is a new attitude in Boracay, Aklanons are more conscious of the environment now and join regular clean-up drives. William and Clyde, managers of a dive shop Island Staff in Station 3, sometimes ride their kayaks or paddleboards to the sea and collect trash in the sea. William also manages Facebook page Boracay Island Paradise Community.

Clyde Sullano, who grew up in Boracay island, explained to me that some of the trash in the sea are from other islands surrounding Boracay. No matter how much we clean after ourselves, there will be rubbish if we do not do the same in other provinces.

“During the closure, it was like back in the old days when my friends and I are the only people swimming at the beach,” Clyde told me in our exclusive interview.

“Residents fear another closure so we clean, but the tourists should do the same,” he added appealing to visitors to be responsible tourists.

It’s more fun in the Philippines

I was one of the people that are indifferent to Boracay’s closure in April. I initially thought that it was a bold but good move to preserve the island’s beauty by giving it time to rest. I also thought that the Philippines has thousands of other islands where tourists can go to in the meantime.

View this post on Instagram A short climb for a magnificent view. This island will inspire a novel. #calaguas #natureneedsnofilter #nofilter #summerdestination #camarinesnorte #philippines A post shared by Kristin Mariano (@techjunkie123) on Mar 23, 2018 at 8:23pm PDT

I have visited a few destinations, which I think are much better than Boracay. Far from its original state, Boracay now offers a mix of island life and the convenience of the city. “The Philippines has huge potential,” Andre Brulhart said after Boracay has transformed him into a beach person despite growing up in Switzerland.

One way to combat overtourism is to spread the volume of tourists to other destinations. The Philippines, being a splintered archipelago, is blessed with gorgeous beaches, magnificent mountains, amazing climate, great food and people and rich culture. The Philippines is not only Boracay, Bohol, and Palawan, it also has Romblon, Bicol, Siargao, Bacolod, Soccsargen region. Curious?

Jet, set, go!

Dive tourism contributes P73 billion to PH economy in 2023: Frasco

Philippines breaches 4.8M international visitor arrivals- DOT Chief

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Overtourism: Lessons from Boracay Island, The Philippines

July 16, 2019 •

5 min reading

In 2018, so-called overtourism has begun to emerge as a serious and dangerous phenomenon. Various cities, cultural heritage sites, recreational areas and islands have been affected by this phenomenon. Overtourism is often associated with extremely crowded tourism destinations and has become a topic of great concern for all stakeholders. According to the UN World Tourism Organization , ‘overtourism’ is: the impact of tourism on a destination, or parts thereof, that excessively influences perceived quality of life of citizens and/or quality of visitors’ experiences in a negative way . As a result, tourism experts are—by and large—at a loss as to how to cope with both the increasing tourist numbers and tourism’s multifaceted impacts on these destinations.

Boracay Island shut to visitors for rehabilitation

Boracay Island, in the Philippines, is an excellent example of this phenomenon. Tripadvisor named Boracay one of the top 25 most beautiful beaches in the world and the 7 th in Asia. The tiny—a mere 10km2!—island hosted over 2 million tourists in 2017, a ratio of 66 tourists for every resident . Tourism became so present on the island that an unusual decision was taken by the Philippines' President Dutarte in April 2018. He decided to close Boracay for six months. Using the President’s own words, the island had become a cesspool that needed immediate action from political authorities.

What led to this situation?

As previously mentioned, Boracay had become one of the most visited tropical islands in Asia. Nevertheless, rampant tourism growth, dating back to the 1970s, resulted in unplanned infrastructural and tourism management practices. Until the 1990s, the island’s visitors tended to be individual backpackers. The economic benefits they generated led, however, to increasingly intensive tourism dynamics (e.g., hotels and restaurants were built) but also growing quality-of-life aspirations from residents.

In addition to the intensification of tourism activities and poorly planned environmental infrastructure, the negative socioeconomic impacts on the indigenous population contributed to Boracay becoming both uncontrolled and uncontrollable. Pollution, partly due to the lack of a proper sewage system, became a major issue on the island. At some beaches, for instance, the water contained faecal coliform (e. coli) levels that were 47 times higher than the acceptable levels. This posed serious health risks for locals and tourists alike.  

A new tourism strategy

The sudden decision to shutter the island for tourism in February 2018 was very harsh for the locals who depend heavily on tourism. The main idea behind the decision was to use the hiatus to clean up the environment, improve hotels’ sewage treatment systems, and to develop a tourism strategy that guarantees a sustainable future for the island. Hence, Boracay re-opened on October 26, 2018 with a new strategy that intends to restrict tourism to make it more sustainable.

These rules are as follows:

• Quota on tourist visits based on the island’s carrying capacity (only 6,405 tourists per day can land on the island).
• New regulations regarding tourists’ attitudes and behavior (e.g., smoking and drinking alcohol are forbidden on White beach, the most visited beach on the island) 
• New regulations regarding locals’ attitudes and behavior (e.g. raising pigs or chickens for a living is forbidden).
• Only the hotels compliant with the requirements of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and accredited by the Department of Tourism, can open again. Tourists can only come to the island if they reserve a room at one of these hotels.
• All hotels must be connected to a proper sewage treatment system.
• Road widening project to resolve congestion issues.
• Trash and unauthorized buildings will be removed from the wetlands.
• Buildings within 30 meters of the shoreline will be destroyed.
• Gambling is forbidden on the island.

These regulations, assuming compliance is widespread, should enable tourism on Boracay Island to become more sustainable. But what has really happened since the reopening?

Towards a more sustainable Boracay Island?

It seems to be working for the time being. These limits on Boracay Island have resulted in more sustainable tourism practices since its reopening in October 2018. Compliance with the maximum carrying capacity has been satisfactory and the Civil Aeronautics Board issued, in April 2019, a reminder to the airlines asking them to follow the government’s visitor limit. Only 353 establishments are allowed to provide accommodations, which is much lower than before the closure in April 2018. Tourism demand is being met without exceeding the infrastructural carrying capacity of the island. In April 2019, the Department of Tourism launched the campaign #MoreFunForever, promoting a brand of tourism that is far more sustainable and inclusive.

The lone caveat however has been the government’s failure to provide a solution for the workers and residents who lost their jobs after October 2019. The protest movement, We Are Boracay, composed of mostly vendors, tricycle drivers, masseuses, tour guides and other workers in the informal sector, calls for solutions from the government.

If the political decision of closing the island works, other destinations might take it as an example to follow. With 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals in the world in 2018, an increasing number of destinations face or will face the phenomenon of overtourism.

References:

Burgos, N. P. (2015). Oil, grease decreasing in Boracay but they exceed standards–DENR. URL: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/671458/oilgrease-decreasing-in-boracay-but-they-exceed-standards-denr-2 . Retrieved on 27.5.2019

De Vera, A. (2019). DOT lists 353 accommodation establishments in Boracay.

UNWTO. (2018). ‘Overtourism’? Understanding and Managing Urban Tourism Growth beyond Perceptions. Retrieved from: https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/9789284420070

UNWTO. (2019). International tourist arrivals reach 1.4 billion two years ahead of forecasts. Retrieved from: http://www2.unwto.org/press-release/2019-01-21/international-tourist-arrivals-reach-14-billion-two-years-ahead-forecasts

Zabal, B. R. B. (2018). Boracay still among top 25 beaches in the world. Retrieved from: https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/travel/ph-travel/197300-boracay-beach-top-world-tripadvisor-2018

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Case Study - Integrating Sustainability at Discovery Shores Boracay Philippines

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Case study developped as part of the Transforming Tourism Value Chains project. 

Discovery Shores Boracay is located in Boracay Island, Philippines. Positioned along a scenic stretch of white sand, with a view of the famous Boracay sunsets, the hotel has 99 suites, a spa, three (3) restaurants, a gym, kid’s room and two (2) bars. Discovery Shores Boracay has initiated its EcoConserve Program which aims to nurture nature by promoting various activities that address environmental issues and problems.

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Boracay Embraces Digitalization for Sustainable Tourism

OpinYon Panay News Team

Boracay Island is a renowned destination cherished for its pristine beaches and vibrant culture. However, the influx of tourists has posed significant challenges to its ecological balance. In a groundbreaking move to revolutionize travel and preserve the island's natural beauty, Boracay is set to implement digital payment solutions for environmental fees starting April 1, 2024.

Mayor Frolibar Bautista of Malay town has championed this digitalization endeavor, recognizing its potential to streamline travel processes while minimizing environmental impact. By integrating digital payment options into the e-Boracay web app, tourists can conveniently and securely pay their environmental fees. This innovative approach not only enhances efficiency but also reflects Boracay's commitment to sustainable tourism practices.

Municipal Ordinance No. 431 introduces nominal charges for tourists, with foreign visitors paying P300 and non-Aklanon guests contributing P150 towards environmental conservation efforts. Notably, returning Aklanons and their families, as well as children aged 12 and below, are exempt from these fees, highlighting the importance of community engagement in preserving Boracay's natural heritage.

The transition to digital platforms not only facilitates ease of payment but also heralds a new era of seamless travel experiences. By leveraging technology, Boracay aims to alleviate queues and expedite processing at key entry points, such as Caticlan and Cagban ports. This strategic initiative enhances traveler satisfaction and fosters a positive impression of Boracay as a forward-thinking destination committed to visitor convenience and environmental stewardship.

Furthermore, the collaboration with Surepay Technologies, Incorporated underscores Boracay's dedication to partnering with reputable industry players in implementing robust payment solutions. As a BSP-licensed payment provider, Surepay brings expertise and credibility to the digitalization process, ensuring the security and reliability of transactions.

While embracing digitalization offers undeniable benefits, it's essential to prioritize data privacy and compliance with regulatory standards. The collection of personal identifiable information through the eBoracay web app necessitates stringent safeguards to protect user privacy and adhere to legal requirements. Transparency and accountability in data handling practices are paramount to earning the trust of visitors and fostering long-term sustainability.

As Boracay embarks on this transformative journey towards digitalization, it sets a precedent for other tourist destinations grappling with similar challenges. By harnessing technology to harmonize tourism and environmental conservation, Boracay paves the way for a more sustainable future, where travelers can revel in the island's beauty while leaving a minimal footprint on its delicate ecosystems.

#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #Boracay #Tourism

https://opinyon.net/national/boracay-embraces-digitalization-for-sustainable-tourism

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Protecting the environment while still having fun: Sustainable practices to try during your next vacation in Boracay

As tourists and visitors, we also have a duty to make sure that our practices do not impose detrimental effects to the destination that we visit. The “Leave No Trace” concept is widely recognized in various destinations in the Philippines, particularly those that feature nature as their main attraction. This is especially true in Boracay following the island’s closure for clean-up. Many Boracay hotels have adopted sustainable practices and systems to help keep this amazing destination beautiful. Of course, tourists visiting Boracay also have a role to play in keeping the island enjoyable for everyone. As visitors, how can we ensure that we are also being sustainable and responsible? Below are some easy ways that can help us make our marks, our way:

Do your research into the destination and accommodations

Be well-prepared and informed. It is important to research about the place you are going to prior to travelling there. Take note of the do’s and don’ts, study the culture and practices of the locals, and make sure that you abide by any laws that are being enforced. When possible, try to look for and stay in a sustainable hotel in Boracay like Feliz Hotel. This assures you that your stay on the island leaves minimal impact on the environment.

Bring an eco-bag

One of the biggest contributors of plastic waste is the use of disposable plastic bags that are usually provided whenever we shop or have leftovers from our last meal. A stay of five days or longer can easily lead to a large amount of plastic waste building up in your room. Eco-bags make it easy for us to haul around stuff that won’t fit our bags. It’s also perfect for that last-minute shopping spree, and is also very easy to bring around as it can be folded to fit in your bag. If you forgot to pack an eco-bag or two with you, many hotels in Station 2 will have eco-bags for sale in their gift shop.

Bring a reusable water bottle

Avoid the thirst and having to spend on bottled drinks when out on the road by bringing a reusable drinking bottle. The hotel you’re staying in and the restaurants throughout the island are more than happy to top up your reusable water bottle as you go about your day. Think about the money you save on bottled water and the amount of plastic you will avoid using. Win-win!

Refuse the plastic straw

More and more establishments are getting on board with the no-straw movement-–and for good reason! Daily use of straws amounts to millions of plastic waste all over the world, and much of those end up in the ocean. You can do your part by refusing straws whenever you buy drinks in restaurants or food stalls. Better yet, you can bring your own reusable straw. Stainless steel and bamboo straws are now widely available in the market as more and more people are becoming aware of the hazards brought about by disposable ones.

Avoid takeout containers or bring your own mess kit

Help save Mother Earth by avoiding takeout food and just eat in the restaurant. Not only do you get to enjoy your food while taking in the ambience of the place, you also eliminate waste consumption brought about by takeout food containers which are usually not recyclable. If dining-in is not an option for those on-the-go, you may choose to bring your own food containers, and request for your takeout food to be placed there instead.

Dispose waste properly

This one is pretty much self-explanatory: Do not litter! Garbage bins are readily available throughout the island, particularly in public places. If there’s no garbage bin in sight, keep your trash first and dispose of it once you find a bin. Avoid throwing your trash randomly, thinking that street sweepers or other people will dispose of it for you. Your waste, your responsibility.

Use non-toxic sunscreen and insect-repellent

Your skin does not absorb sunscreen completely. The formula simply sticks onto your skin and is washed out once you get into the water. Chemicals found in some sunscreen and insect repellents have hazardous effects to the corals and marine life. Organic and non-toxic alternatives are widely available in the market and are just as effective as their more-hazardous counterparts.

Respect nature and wildlife

You wouldn’t want somebody else going into your home and trashing it, would you? Promoting sustainable tourism is not just about respecting the destination, but also those who call it home. Also, make sure to leave what you find. Avoid picking up shells, corals, uprooting plants and calling them “souvenirs”. All these have important roles in the environment and they wouldn’t be able to do those roles while sitting on your bedside table or placed inside containers.

Be considerate of other visitors

Avoid making loud noises and invading other people’s private spaces. These people want to enjoy their vacation as much as you do. On top of bothering other guests, noise pollution can easily disturb local wildlife. Be mindful of your behavior, and always remember to be considerate!

Enjoying your vacation in Boracay doesn’t mean losing respect for the destination you are visiting. YOU can make a difference. We can all help save Mother Earth in our own little ways, all while still having fun!

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Eco Practices of The District Boracay

by TDB Marketing 2 | Dec 14, 2018 | Blog | 0 comments

In this day and age, it is important to embrace the green lifestyle – at home, at work, even during vacation. With the rapid growth in tourist arrivals in, it is important that Boracay hotels in particular ensure a sustainable business model that is both beneficial to the environment and to future generations.

The District Boracay has been practicing eco-friendly measures in its daily operation, with the hopes to mitigate and offset its carbon footprint, and to inspire other hotels to follow suit. Below are some of its eco-practices:

Switch to Renewable Energy

The District is one of the few Boracay hotels to use solar energy for most of its energy needs. It has about 100 solar panels installed on its rooftop, and has been the resort’s main power source since 2015. It does not only help the resort save money from it electric consumption, but also minimize the use of fossil fuel which has negative effect to the environment. It is an expensive investment, and a worthy one at that!

Towel and Linen replacement

The District has been implementing a towel and linen replacement system designed to save water by reducing the amount of laundry to the minimum. As a standard practice, we replace towels and linens during the nightly turn down every 2 nights. However, we are giving our guests the option to skip this service if they feel it is not necessary. We make sure to walk the talk, and educate our guests at the same time, on the importance of saving water.

Dual Flush Toilets

Unknown to most people, the two buttons on some toilets actually serve a greater purpose and The District Boracay has been using this since the start. The two buttons are designed to use different amounts of water depending on what business you did there, if you know what I mean. To simply put it, the bigger button uses a minimum of 6 liters of water, while the smaller button uses only 3 liters.

Plastic-less trash bins

This one might be the simplest, yet saves as much plastic as any of the other methods. The District Boracay does not use plastic linings in its trashcans. Instead, we provide two trash bins in the room – one that is easy to clean for wet waste and a regular bin for dry waste. This is also to encourage guests to practice waste segregation, and hopefully bring this practice with them when they go home.

Reusable Straws

Thanks to the innovations on everyday items, we no longer use plastic or disposable straws. Instead, we offer guests the option to go strawless or to use sanitized stainless straws. We also have sets for sale, in case the guest is willing to adopt this practice on a daily basis.

Plastic bottles, no more.

We are all familiar with water bottles being a complementary amenity to guests. That also means at least two bottles are thrown out per room and that doesn’t actually add up well. This inspired The District to ditch disposables altogether and replace them with reusable ones which greatly reduced the plastic trash we dispose of.

Non-chemical cleaning products

Keeping the cleanliness of every room, bathroom, kitchen and other areas of the hotel is essential part of a resort operation. But most conventional cleaning supplies contaminate the air that we breathe and soon enough end up contaminating fresh water or somewhere it has ended up. And that doesn’t go well with The District’s dedication to help the environment. That is why we use eco-friendly cleaning supplies for regular use to ensure no more harmful chemicals are disposed from the property.

At the end of the day, The District is only one resort amongst many. And in the fight against global warming, we all have to do our part to ensure the future generations will be able to see the beauty of Boracay or any tourist destination.

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Multi Sectoral Actions towards Sustainable Tourism in the Philippines: A Case of Boracay Island

2022, Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

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Home ⇛ international journal of multidisciplinary: applied business and education research ⇛ vol. 2 no. 8 (2021), sustainable tourism development in boracay island, malay, aklan.

Jimmy Bernabe Maming | Alexander Franco A. Delantar | Patricio G. Gabuya

Sustainability is regarded as a critical goal in tourism planning and development. Boracay Island has faced challenges and deterioration as a result of rapid growth in tourism without proper planning and management, leading to its six-month temporary closure on May 8, 2018. Through qualitative interviews with key stakeholders, this paper aims to investigate the sustainable tourism development of Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan. Yin's data analysis and procedures were used to create a single case study design. Data was gathered and analyzed using interviews, observations, and data reviews. The study included twenty (20) key informants who were chosen at random. The study's conclusive report yields benefits and costs in three areas: first, economic characteristics of tourism benefit communities and improve the island's economy. However, the island's high cost of living rises, causing inflation. Second, in terms of the environment, its natural resources have been harmed in part by members of the local immigrant and business populations, but they will recover as a result of the recent national and local government efforts to restore the island's ecology. Third, in terms of social structure, improved infrastructure such as good housing and roads create better living conditions for residents. Nonetheless, tourists' influence on the social culture of Boracay Island's young residents is enthralling. The study's output is a theory on sustainable tourism development that will help future research on similar topics and improve the socio-economic quality of life.

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• Mar 1, 2020

How YOU can help promote Responsible Tourism on Boracay

Updated: Apr 15, 2020

By Al O. Orolfo, Ph.D.

Before visiting Boracay Island, read first articles or watch clips on what happened there before, and then you will realize why it was closed for six months. By doing this, you will better understand why Boracay Island is shifting its image into a sustainable tourism destination from its former hype as a 24/7 party island.

The parties, although not as big, are still there, but they are now inside the establishments compared to before being on the preferred White Beach beachfront. The overcrowding and building construction spree had to be moderated with the adoption of an island carrying capacity.

Timberland areas are now closed for commercial purposes. Water quality surrounding the island is now regularly monitored and hotels/resorts and other commercial establishments are now required to be connected to sewerage service providers.

With the awakening that the island’s unique resources are finite and cannot go on forever as such, the old and new visitors to the island are beginning to appreciate the new vibe the island has to offer. But of course, these steps are just the beginning and must be sustained to have long-term results.

As a visitor to the island, you may be wondering how can you help and be part of the continued rehabilitation efforts. A big or small effort from you will go a long way if before coming to Boracay, you mapped out how you can contribution to the island’s goals.

Below are some pointers you may consider doing while on the world-famous island:

Check the calendar of events offered by various establishments. You may find that some establishments offer a weekly coastal clean-up activity that you can join. They welcome volunteers and these cleanup activities are usually at sundown so as not to disrupt your extended morning slumber while on the island.

Do you want to plant trees as your legacy to the island? These will be here when you come back again, and could become your shade and source of fresh air. The island now has a Tree Park (Arboretum) in Mt. Luho. It is one of the wetlands rehabilitated and turned into a public park. The place is locally called Wetland #2 in Mt. Luho. You may contact DENR CENRO Boracay through EMS I Ramil Marin (+63 950 122 8984) which has a temporary office in Manocmanoc Barangay Hall if you wish to visit the site.

Boracay is a habitat of wildlife animals. Respect their natural home. While roaming along the island’s coastal areas, you might encounter one of the endangered sea turtles (Olive Ridley, Hawksbill and Green Sea). Please do not step on their nesting sites, and report to authorities if you have seen one coming ashore to lay their eggs. In the terrestrial area, the island is also home to the giant flying foxes, one of the rare megabat endemic species which calls the island their home. If your resort has fruit-bearing trees, they will surely visit it at night. Let them feast on their local food source. Do not hurt nor disturb them. Just watch and enjoy observing them and their wildlife behaviors. If you are into birdwatching, the Wetland #2 has a bird hide watching tower. Bring your own binoculars though, and the best time is during the early morning or late afternoon. If you are a diver or snorkeling enthusiast, practice the Green Fins Protocols. These are the United Nations Environment Programme’s approved guidelines while doing marine tourism. Please appreciate the marine creatures and do not feed or pick them up.

Do not take out any form of nature from the island. Our Island ecosystem is fragile. Thus, by taking its sand as a souvenir, you contribute to the fast disintegration of its unique quality. Please leave it just the way it was when you arrived. We have a saying on Boracay, “take away nothing but pictures.”

Go native. Shop for authentic products made in Boracay. And it doesn’t get more local than by visiting the Ati Village. They have a small store adjacent to their village gate where they sell their handmade products. While there, you also get the chance to appreciate the Ati culture by visiting their Bihasin Ati Living Heritage Center museum. Shopping local means supporting local livelihoods and the vibrant local economy. Always bring and re-use your ecobag while shopping anywhere on the island.

Ditch the plastics. The Local Government of Malay now bans single use plastics so be warned to follow this local ordinance. It is advisable for you to bring your own water tumbler. The practice of bringing your own reusable utensils will help lessen the load of disposable utensils together with other forms of garbage being generated by the island.

Talking about trash, the island practices waste segregation. Be sure to dispose of your trash responsibly by following the waste segregation rules. White Beach has rows of designated trash bin areas. Definitely you will enjoy your beach bumming moments if your selfies there do not show any litter on the ground. Pick up irresponsibly thrown waste or better yet, call the nearest law enforcers who will fine someone you have seen throwing it wantonly. The fine for littering is PhP2,500.

Save water and energy while on the island. These two major resources are the most expensive utility bills on the island. The island’s main source of water is a river named Nabaoy located in the mainland. The ubiquitous power generators among resorts and hotels shows that power needs on the island are not yet fully supplied, hence the exorbitant cost of power. Please help the establishments save by doing your part in water and power conservation.

Walk and be fit as well. Boracay Island is really for walkers; it’s one of the reasons why we don’t have too much public transportation. By walking more, you lessen your carbon footprint and can be part of climate change adaptation. Boracay’s main road now has pedestrian sidewalks all the way to the Cagban Port. From Station 3 up to the port, you can achieve 5,000 steps and going back you will get your daily 10,000 steps goal. Believe me, I did it.

Visit and patronize resorts and restaurants which do “best green practices.” Boracay island already has thriving numbers of these green establishments. Show that you support this movement by posting on your social media apps about their services, taking note of their efforts to support the sustainable tourism road map of the island. As such you become a multiplier of the movement.

Reduce your screen time on social media simply by looking around and enjoying the sights. There are many natural wonders on Boracay Island which deserve your attention more than your smartphone. The island has the most awesome sunrise in the world. White Beach is famous for the magnificent sunsets, but if your stay is at a resort facing Ilig-iligan Beach and Bulabog Beach, you can wake up early to see the golden sun rays rising from the sea. Similar to that is Boracay’s moonrise on the same side of the island. It seems there is always a supermoon rising there. While watching that you could witness some culture as locals go fishing as the sun sets. You will see them picking shells and other edible marine food that nature gives them.

The Boracay Island rehabilitation is still a work in progress and does not end together with the tour of duty by the Boracay Taskforce. It just began and with their presence. We still all have roles and a chance to take part in sustaining the rehabilitation gains.

As a responsible tourist, you can share in that role and responsibility. Well, not only on Boracay Island, but also in the other places you visit too - you can make that positive impact. Responsible tourism is not only about the environment, but also about respecting the local culture, and supporting the local economy.

Enjoy the much awaited summer season and become a multiplier for responsible tourism. Welcome back to Boracay – your tropical paradise, regained!

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United States Sustainable Travel Insights Report 2023-2024 & 2029: Businesses Must Adapt to Remain Competitive, Travelers Embrace Eco-Friendly Options, Responsible Tourism Practices Expanding - ResearchAndMarkets.com

The "U.S. Sustainable Travel Market - Focused Insights 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The U.S. sustainable travel market was valued at $66.22 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach a value of $116.46 billion in 2029, growing at a CAGR of 9.87% from 2023-2029

The U.S. sustainable travel or tourism market has seen remarkable growth and transformation in recent years, reflecting an increasing awareness and concern for environmental and social issues. Sustainable travel encompasses a range of aspects, including eco-friendly accommodations, responsible tourism practices, and eco-conscious transportation options.

The U.S. sustainable travel market report contains exclusive data on 36 vendors. The competitive U.S. sustainable travel market is intensifying, with global and domestic players offering diverse products and services. The competitions focus on revenue generation, product & service diversification, global presence, and others. A few major players, such as G Adventures, Intrepid Travel, Natural Habitat Adventures, REI, and Responsible Travel, dominate the market.

In July 2023, REI, one of the key vendors, launched an expansion of its multi-day travel offerings, including three Canadian Rockies trips and new U.S. destinations, reflecting a positive trend in the market. This growth supports their multiyear strategy to help three million people get outdoors annually. The doubling of REI's paddling locations and the expansion of day tours indicate a rising demand for sustainable outdoor experiences. Market players can cope with this development by diversifying their offerings to include outdoor experiences and focusing on sustainability efforts, such as reducing their environmental footprint and offering guided eco-tours.

Additionally, travelers can opt for eco-friendly lodgings like ecolodges, treehouses, and sustainable resorts that aim to provide a low-impact, immersive experience in nature. Responsible tourism practices are also central to the U.S. sustainable travel market. Travelers are increasingly interested in supporting local communities and preserving cultural heritage. This has led to a rise in community-based tourism initiatives, cultural exchanges, and volunteering opportunities. Sustainable travel encourages travelers to engage with and respect the destinations they visit.

MARKET DRIVERS

Escalating Environmental Concerns: The U.S. is the world's most significant contributor to plastic waste and emitters of greenhouse gases. Travelers are increasingly concerned about their environmental impact during journeys, leading to a growing demand for eco-friendly and low-impact travel options like electric vehicles, cycling, or public transit. Market players must adopt sustainable practices and reduce their environmental footprint. This includes implementing energy-efficient technologies, reducing single-use plastics, and supporting conservation efforts. Travelers are likelier to choose businesses and destinations that actively address environmental concerns, providing a competitive advantage.

Government Policies Promoting Sustainable Tourism: Governments at various levels in the U.S. are introducing policies and regulations like the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), which has already encouraged measures to support sustainable tourism. This includes incentives for businesses to adopt eco-friendly practices, tax breaks for renewable energy installations, and requirements for sustainable building standards in the hospitality industry. Market players must comply with these policies and utilize available incentives. Adhering to government standards benefits the environment and contributes to a positive public image. Government support can also increase investment in sustainable infrastructure, creating opportunities for sustainable travel businesses.

U.S. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MARKET INSIGHTS

• Sustainable tourism in the U.S. caters to travelers of all generations, from millennials to baby boomers and Generation Z. Each generation has unique preferences and values, and sustainable travel providers have tailored offerings to meet their specific needs and interests. Sustainable travel providers have tapped into these generational differences, creating experiences that resonate with each group's particular desires and ethical stances, ensuring that travelers from all walks of life can engage in meaningful and sustainable travel.
• The ecolodges accommodation type is growing significantly, with the highest CAGR of 11.29% in the U.S. market during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is due to an increasing demand for ecolodges that follow the principles of ecotourism, such as minimizing negative impacts, conserving biodiversity, supporting local communities, and educating visitors.
• The millennial age group is the fastest-growing segment in the U.S. sustainable travel market during the forecast period. The segment's growth can be attributed to the increasing preference for experiential and authentic travel, which motivates millennials to seek alternative and responsible travel options, such as ecotourism, voluntourism, and cultural immersion.
• The female segment has the most prominent U.S. sustainable travel market share in 2023. The awareness and concern for sustainability influence travel decisions and habits of female travelers, as they are more mindful and proactive about their travel's environmental and social impacts and more likely to adopt sustainable travel practices and behaviors, thus resulting in the growth of sustainable travel in the U.S.
• Based on end-users, the group segment holds the largest share, with over 85% of 2023 of the U.S. sustainable travel market. Group travelers, whether families or corporate groups, are helping the segment to grow as they seek accommodations and activities supporting community engagement and responsible tourism. Sustainable travel providers have stepped up to create family-friendly and group-friendly eco-resorts and accommodations that offer eco-activities suitable for various ages and interests.
• The online booking channels are the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. Travelers choose online as it is convenient and easily accessible. The online channel allows travelers to research, compare, and book eco-friendly accommodations and activities through websites, apps, and online platforms.

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED

• How big is the U.S. sustainable travel market?
• What is the growth rate of the U.S. sustainable travel market?
• What are the key drivers of the U.S. sustainable travel market?
• Who are the key players in the U.S. sustainable travel market?

Key Attributes:

VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Key Vendors

• G Adventures
• Intrepid Travel
• Natural Habitat Adventures
• Responsible Travel

Other Prominent Vendors

• Gondwana Ecotours
• Kind Traveler
• SafariSmiths Travel
• Preferred Travel Group
• Green Tortoise Adventure Travel
• Alaska Alpine Adventures
• Naturalist Journeys
• Discover Corps
• Adventure Life
• Much Better Adventures
• Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris
• Lindblad Expeditions
• Go Ask A Local
• Wyndham Destinations
• National Geographic Society
• Evergreen Escapes
• Country Walkers
• Enchanting Travels
• Exodus Travels
• &BEYOND
• Aurora Expeditions
• Geographic Expeditions
• Elevate Destinations
• Byway Travel
• Terra Incognita ECOTOURS
• Sustainable Travel International

Segmentation & Forecast

Accommodation Type (Revenue)

• Hotels, Resorts & Villas
• Cottages & Cabins

Age Group (Revenue)

• Millennials
• Generation X
• Baby Boomers
• Generation Z

Gender (Revenue)

End-users (Revenue)

Booking Channels (Revenue)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1judkm

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