PRELIMINARY SITE ASSESSMENT AND ITS IMPORTANCE
existing protocols and projects, and insights). Including them in the
Before carrying out a full- blown assessment is critical to conduct a
preliminary evaluation of the study area. Although the preliminary
site evaluation (PSE) contained in DENR DAO 2013- 19 was designed
for protected areas. PSE can be applied to the tourism sites. PSE can
help to provide a picture of how ready to place is for tourism
An emerging tourist attraction/site is one where the supply and
demand are still in the inception or development stage. A potential
attraction/site is basically a greenfield or an area without tourism
structures and visitors but which has outstanding aesthetic appeal.
MAJOR CONSIDERATION IN THE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT-
Hazard and Security Issues One red flag is the presence of serious
hazards in the area study. Good sources for this information are the
LGU’s CLUP which usually contains a section on identified hazards
and susceptibility to such hazards, Disaster Response and Recovery
Management Plan (DRRM) Plan ( LCCAP). Hazards can be natural or
man- made. Extreme weather conditions or geological phenomena
may bring about natural hazards. They include the threats of
typhoons, storm surges, flooding, erosion, landslides, earthquakes,
volcanic eruption, and extreme heat, which could spark wildfires.
Planners may evaluate these hazards in terms of their frequency,
severity, and extent of affected areas. Man- made hazards include
insurgency, terrorism, serious crimes, and infection diseases, such as
COVID-19. Newspaper and military and police provide information
about these security problems.
Control and Ownership of the Land- DOT et al, (2017) identify land
ownership as among the salient factors that need to be assessed in
tourism planning. The DOT et al, (2017) favor government – owned
lands over private lands. This is because of LGU will have free hand
in developing tourism in a government – owned area but not
privately owned land.
The government cannot fund projects in privately owned land,
protected area, indigenous people’s ancestral domains, or those
under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. There is a
need to secure permission from protected Area Management Board
(PAMB) is a protected area Authorization from the indigenous
peoples (IP) community chieftains and the National Commission for
IP (NCIP) will need to be confirmed if it is an ancestral domain. The
process could be difficult but not impossible. The government is not
allowed to use public funds on private property. For example, if a
resort owner asks the LGU to improve the private road leading to
their resorts, he/ she will be denied.
Stakeholder Support For Tourism Development
One of the pillars of sustainable tourism developments is the
inclusion of tourism STAKEHOLDERS in decision making. They refer
to people affected by tourism development, which essentially
means everyone. Therefore, to the greatest, extent possible, all
stakeholder groups must help formulate tourism plans and share the
benefits and even costs of developing them.
Representatives of government’s agencies, tourism officers,
development officers, the academe, the religious sector
nongovernmental organizations, people's organizations, and private
sectors should be able to attend workshops and consultative
meetings.
Micro-entrepreneurs, local transport operators (jeepney, tricycle,
habal-haban), PWDs, senior citizens, member of the LGBTQIA+
community, and indigenous peoples constitute the vulnerable
groups that should also have a hand in tourism planning. These
groups are excellent sources of information and data in their
respective spheres of responsibility (baseline data, best practices,
decision-making process, opening opportunities for livelihood,
employment, and businesses on a fair set of guidelines, and ensuring
that the noneconomic benefits such as improved infrastructure and
public services will help create a positive tourism mindset
development. THE PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES OF STAKEHOLDER
GROUPS are essential for tourism to gain attraction and take off.
Political support for tourism is vital since the local chief executives
and councils set the legislative agenda. Tourism that the political
leaders champion usually gains momentum faster than tourism that
does not enjoy such support.
A mayor and local council that advocates tourism will pass
legislation, create the relevant tourism office, and allocate funding
more speedily.
Many Local politicians understand the value of successful tourism
programs. An indicator of political support for tourism is the
presence of updated tourism plans and ordinances.
Significant Attractions In The Area
Attractions can be natural or cultural. Planners can assess them in
terms of their uniqueness and natural beauty, the level of their
preservation, and appeal to the senses.
In the case of heritage attractions, the older they are, the more
significant they usually are as well. The living heritage city of Vigan is
probably one of the most well-preserved of such type attraction.
Planners must also evaluate the resources relative to the rest of
the local economy and its competitors or neighboring towns and
cities. An LGU must be wise enough to prioritize other industries to
generate better outcomes for their constituents if their tourism
resources are pretty ordinary. Features The other senses: hearing,
touch, smell and tastes.
Accessibility
Another point to be considered is accessibility. This factor has
something to do with the infrastructure that will enable visitors to
reach the attractions. The DOT recommends that sites be no farther
than two hours from a gateway, such as a seaport or an airport, and
not more than thirty minutes from the town center or service
center. The service center is the most urbanized town in the
province, usually the capital. Infrastructure includes expressways,
roads, bridges, and railways. Other aspects are their frequency,
schedule trips, and alternative modes by lands, sea, or air. MOST
TRAVELERS- waterfall
Sensitivity Of The Site To Tourism Impacts
Another consideration is the potential impact tourism can create on
the site. This actor may not be so critical if the site is in a brownfield
or a built-up area. However, it the site is in a greenfield, the
development will need to be controlled strictly to prevent averse
environmental impacts. There are classifications of protected areas
where tourism may be allowed only on a tiny scale. Environmentally
critical areas (ECAS) cover mangrove forests, coral reets, water
bodies, and habitats of endangered animals. The carrying capacities
in these areas are much smaller; the authorities curtail tourism
activities to prevent environmental degradation. Planners may find
where such ECAs are in the LGU's CLUP.