Module 1: Strategies for a Sustainable World
The Ecotourism
Concept
● Since the late 1980s, ecotourism
has been drawing interest as an
alternative to mass tourism.
● The term was originally equated
with ecologically sustainable
tourism but other definitions such
as the one from the Philippine
Department of Tourism expanded
its scope to cover the cultural
resources as well.
● Ecotourism has become a popular
path for developing many rural
areas, which have limited
commercially developed facilities
but have distinct natural and
cultural assets. This chapter
attempts to walk you through the
history of the concept, its key
principles, and its relationship to
similar tourism products.
Rationale for Ecotourism
Development
The development of ecotourism is
supported by both supply and demand
considerations. On the supply side,
many places possess significant natural
and cultural assets, such as unique
landscapes, a variety of ecosystems,
abundant flora and fauna, and diverse
culture and heritage (Kim, Kang, &
Sukmajaya, 2013).
The Philippines is ideal for
ecotourism development because of its
outstanding natural and cultural assets.
It is a "megadiversity" hotspot with
more than several hundred species of
birds, mammals, reptiles, and
amphibians as well as a wide diversity of
native trees, plants, and flowers, 67% of
which are unique to the country. The
country also sits on the coral triangle
where many species of marine life
originate.
Some of the notable ecotourism sites in
the Philippines are the Cordillera Rice
Terraces, Puerto Princesa Underground
River, the Agusan Marsh, Mayon
Volcano, Bohol for the tarsiers, Donsol
for the whale sharks, and Olango Islands
for the migratory birds.
Benefits and Costs of Ecotourism
(1) revenue generation;
(2) local employment;
(3) environmental conservation;
(4) environmental awareness;
(5) appreciation of local culture; and
(6) opportunities for inclusion of
women, indigenous communities,
and vulnerable groups in
decision-making & management
of ecotourism areas (JICA, 2012;
Drumm & Moore, 2002).
Revenues
● can be created from entrance
fees, user fees, concessionaire
rentals, and donations of tourists.
Local people can find employment as
local tourism officers, tourism planners,
tour guides, waiters, and vendors.
Ecotourism can be an alternative
livelihood to mining or kaingin farming.
Poor execution can lead to problems like
environmental degradation, inflation,
crowding, conflicts, and loss of cultural
values. Many wild animals are sensitive
to the presence of people and naturally
avoid going to areas where ecotourists
frequently visit, resulting in the loss of
biodiversity.
Places can be ruined by people stepping
on corals, trampling on vegetation, and
littering plastic wrappers and bottles
from food and beverage supplies,
bringing polluting vehicles, and excessive
construction of facilities (JICA, 2012).
To address the threats of ecotourism,
JICA (2012) recommended the
following:
● Cultivating and enhancing economic
opportunities through skills
Development and production of local
handicrafts;
● Protecting and conserving
indigenous knowledge systems
which are tried and tested ways of
doing things, like the terrace
construction techniques in the
Cordilleras;
● Fostering cultural celebrations like
town fiestas which strengthen local
identity, thus making the local people
more resistant to outside cultural
influences;
● Enhancing local life appreciation by
making the residents know why
tourists visit their places;
● Empowering local people through
local sourcing, local employment,
and local ownership and
management;
● Providing many opportunities for
tourist involvement in tourism
activities through volunteerism and
donation to worthy causes like
education, health, and
environmental conservation;
● Sound business management of
ecotourism sites to ensure their
viability.
History of Ecotourism
Ecotourism became popular with the
growing strength of the environmental
movements in the 1970s and 1980s
(Honey, 1999 in Cobbinah, 2015).
Ecotourism was seen as an alternative to
mass tourism, which was associated
with negative social and environmental
impacts (Ziffer, 1989 in Cobbinah, 2015).
Ceballos-Lascurain (1983) emphasized
the value of ecotourism for
environmental conservation.
The emergence of sustainable
development paradigm (WCED, 1987)
contributed to the popularity of
sustainable forms of tourism, which
include ecotourism. Since then,
ecotourism has incorporated ethical
concerns for the welfare of indigenous
people, social well-being of local
residents (Ziffer, 1989 in Cobbinah,
2015), and responsible travel behavior
(The International Ecotourism Society,
1990).
Honey (1999 in Cobbinah) introduced
the dimensions of equity, local
empowerment, respect for different
cultures, and human rights into the
ecotourism discourse.
1992
— the concept of ecotourism was
introduced in the Philippines following
the inception of the Philippine Tourism
Master Plan for 1991-2011 (National
Ecotourism Steering Committee &
Ecotourism Technical Working Group,
2002).
— The organizational structure for the
development of ecotourism in the
Philippines was formed on June 17,
1999, with the issuance of Executive
Order (EO) 111 series of 1999 by then
President Joseph Estrada (NESC & ETWG,
2002).
Republic Act 9593, also known as
Tourism Act of 2009.
● Under the law, one of the State’s
objectives is to “develop
responsible tourism as a strategy
for providing assistance in the
determination of ecotourism
sites…”
● To support the development of
ecotourism, RA 9593 specifies
that 5% from the 50% of travel
tax collection accruing to the
Tourism Infrastructure and
Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA)
as operational funds should be
earmarked for the development
of ecotourism sites in depressed
provinces with strong tourism
potentials (Section 72, RA 9593).
The Importance of ecotourism in the
country’s tourism development program
is underscored by the fact that one of
the 25 members of the Tourism
Coordinating Council under RA 9593
should be a representative from
accredited non-government organization
or people’s organization engaged in
ecotourism.
 Definitions of Ecotourism
There is no universally accepted
definition of ecotourism. Fennell (2001,
in Smith, 2009) estimated that there are
at least 85 different definitions of
ecotourism. However, the definitions
share many common elements, such as
travel to natural areas, education being
the primary motivation, as well as
conservation and local well-being.
Tourism Society’s Dictionary for the
Tourism Industry (2008 in Smith, 2009)
defined ecotourism as
“destination-based visits/tours and
considered to be small- scale tourism
development using local products and
produce with a clear orientation to local
flora and fauna” and “tours that do not
disturb the local environment while
producing income for areas.” This
definition focuses on ecology from
which the term ecotourism was derived.
One of the earliest and most popular
definitions of ecotourism was the one
provided by Ceballos-Lascurain (1983)
who defined it as “…tourism that
involves traveling to relatively
undisturbed natural areas with the
specific object of studying, admiring,
and enjoying the scenery and its wild
plants and animals, as well as any
existing cultural aspects (both past and
present) found in these areas.”
The Philippine definition contained in
the National Ecotourism Strategy (2002)
is one of the most comprehensive,
which closely resembles the tenets of
sustainable tourism itself: “[Ecotourism
is a] form of sustainable tourism within a
natural and cultural heritage area where
community participation, protection and
management of natural resources,
culture and indigenous knowledge and
practices, environmental education and
ethics as well as economic benefits are
fostered and pursued for the enrichment
of host communities and satisfaction of
visitors.”
Classification of
Ecotourism
One is the “shallow-deep continuum” by
Acott, La Trobe, and Howard (1998),
which was derived from Naess’ concept
of “shallow and deep ecology” (1972).
Deep ecotourism emphasizes the right
of humans to survive and thrive as any
other species while aiming to minimize
humans’ negative impacts on living and
nonliving things found in nature. It also
recognizes the intimate relationship that
indigenous people have with their
environment, and would respect the
need for that culture to flourish.
Shallow ecotourism supports the notion
of “people-nature dichotomy” and the
necessity of removing humans from
“natural” areas in order to preserve it.
This philosophical standpoint gives rise
to problems such as indigenous people
being displaced from a protected area in
order to protect the latter. Shallow
ecotourists see nature as an object for
entertainment, and something to be
exploited to benefit humans.
Another is Weaver’s (2001) “hard-soft
continuum.”
Hard Ecotourism is described as being
physically active, entails strong
environmental Commitment, enhanced
sustainability, involves specialized, long
trips, fewer services are expected, and
an emphasis on personal experience.
Soft Ecotourism, is described as being
physically passive, entails moderate
Environmental commitment,
steady-state sustainability, involves
multipurpose, short trips, services are
expected, and puts an emphasis on
interpretation.
By combining Weaver’s hard-soft
categorization with their own dimension
of visitor volume (larger scale to smaller
scale), Alampay and Libosada (2003)
came up with their
own classification of ecotourism
consisting of four quadrants:
1. Larger scale, active ecotourism
– has higher volume of tourists
consisting of larger groups; has emphasis
on personal experience; western
standard services are not essential;
there is some degree of standardization
for trips and itineraries.
2. Smaller scale, active ecotourism
– has lower volume of tourists involving
smaller groups; emphasis is still on
personal experience but few, if any,
services are expected; involves
specialized trips and itineraries.
3. Larger scale, passive ecotourism
– attracts higher volume of tourists,
involving larger groups; emphasis is on
interpretation and services and Facilities
are expected.
4. Lower volume, passive ecotourism
– involves lower volume of tourists,
consisting of smaller groups; the
emphasis is on interpretation and
services and facilities are expected.
The term “eco” is loosely applied in the
context of “eco-park” (e.g., La Mesa
Ecopark) and “eco-village” (e.g., Malasag
Eco-village). Are these forms of
ecotourism? Strictly speaking the
answer is NO, as ecotourism is supposed
to be located in a place that is relatively
untouched and has heritage value,
something that has been passed on from
past generations to the present.
Ecoparks and ecovillages are often
located in populous, developed settings;
they only adopt ecology as a theme.
They are not ecotourism parks but
ecology-themed parks.
Principles of Ecotourism
A review of the major writings on
ecotourism by the TIES, UNWTO, IUCN,
national tourism organizations in
Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines,
as well as ecotourism guidelines from
the Philippines' Department of
Environment and Natural Resources,
ecotourism guru Ceballos-Lascurain, and
Honey yield the following consolidated
list of the major values and principles of
ecotourism:
1. Minimal impacts
2. Environmental and cultural awareness
and respect
3. Positive experiences for both visitors
and hosts
4. Direct financial benefits for
conservation
5. Financial benefits for local people and
private industry
6. Memorable interpretative experiences
to visitors
7. Design, construction, and operation of
low-impact facilities
8. Recognition for the rights and beliefs
of indigenous people
9. Support for human rights and
democratic movement
10. Organized by specialized tour
operators for small groups with service
provider partners at the destinations
11. Generation of alternative income
and employment opportunities
12. Promotion of well-being and
community development
13. Interpretation
14. Community participation in
management
15. Education
16. Ethics
17. Responsibility
18. Sustainability
19. Cultural sensitivity
20. Inclusion of local community and
indigenous people in development
21. Gender equality
Ecotourism is a sub-component of
sustainable tourism (Wood, 2002).
Sustainable Tourism is not limited to
ecotourism as other forms of tourism
can also be sustainable Depending on
factors like economic viability,
environmental integrity, and social
Equity. In theory, urban tourism, which is
carried out outside natural areas, can
also Be sustainable if managed properly.
On the other hand, “eco-labeled” tour
products or destinations are not always
sustainable; operators of poorly
managed “ecotours” Are guilty of
“greenwashing” or misrepresentation.
An example of greenwashing are Tours
that feature animal rides where the
animals (like elephants) have been
subjected To torture to break their spirit
and make them compliant to the
commands of their Human masters.
Another example is a cave exploration
tour where carrying capacity is routinely
exceeded, compromising the integrity of
the cave itself and disturbing the Wildlife
that inhabits the cave.
Natural area is defined as “an area of
unique scenic, historic, geologic,
ecological value and of sufficient size
and character so as to allow its
maintenance or in a natural condition by
the operation of physical and biological
processes, usually without direct human
intervention.
Cultural tourism centers on the
discovery of a destination’s heritage. An
example would be a local artisan
showing tourists how to weave tapestry
and explaining about a traditional dress.
Its difference with ecotourism is that
cultural tourism excludes natural
heritage, such as wildlife and geological
attractions.
Green tourism applies to
environment-friendly tourism
operations, such as a rainforest lodge
with composting toilets and solar
powered lighting.
Community-based tourism
— The main attribute of
community-based tourism is community
ownership and management of tourism
enterprise. Some ecotourism ventures
are primarily run by local communities,
such as the paddleboat tour near the
Puerto Princesa Underground River;
however, some ecotours could be owned
or run by external agents or tour
operators. Community participation and
sharing of the economic benefits of
tourism are key principles of ecotourism
but it does not have to mean control and
ownership of ecotourism enterprises.
Adventure tourism
— involves an element of risk. Extreme
adventure tourism, such as rock wall
climbing or underwater cave diving
could be extremely dangerous because
tourists could actually get killed.
Ecotourism does not always involve that
type of risks.
Weaver (2001) noted that there could be
"soft ecotourists" and "hard
ecotourists." Soft ecotourists are those
who may enjoy nature trips like
mangrove tours in the relative safety of
their boats, donning life vests, and
keeping a respectful distance from the
observed animals, thus lessening risky
situations.
Agritourism (also known as farm
tourism) is a subcategory of rural
tourism. It encourages visitors to
experience and learn about agricultural
life for periods of a day, overnight, or
longer-term. Visitors may have the
opportunity to work in the fields
alongside farmers, coffee growers,
vineyardists, or fishermen. The farm
where agritourism takes place may or
may not be located in an undisturbed
natural area.
Responsible tourism focuses on the
behavior of tourists and ethical issues of
other tourism stakeholders with respect
to tourism development. However,
unlike ecotourism, responsible tourism
may not always result in the generation
of income for host communities.
Module 2: Ecotourism as a Business
Ecotourism product
● is a composite of resources,
facilities, activities, and services.
The success of the ecotourism
product or destination is very
much dependent on the quality
of the ecotourism plan.
Phases of Ecotourism Management
The ecotourism management process
entails four main phases:
1. Assessment phase, which covers two
stages:
a. Preliminary site evaluation
b. Full site evaluation
2. Planning phase, which should produce
two output:
a. Ecotourism management plan for the
site
b. Ecotourism business plan
3. Implementation phase
a. Implementation of the management
plan
b. Implementation of the business plan
4. Monitoring and evaluation
Site Assessment in a Protected Area
According to the National Integrated
Protected Areas System Act (RA 7586 of
1992), a Protected Area refers to
identified portions of land and water set
aside by reason of their unique physical
and biological significance, managed to
enhance biological diversity and
protected against destructive human
exploitation.
According to the same law, protected
areas are classified into: (1) strict nature
reserve, (2) natural park, (3) natural
monument, (4) wildlife sanctuary, (5)
protected landscapes and seascapes, (6)
resource reserve, (7) natural biotic
areas, and (8) other categories
established by law, conventions, or
international agreements of which the
Philippine Government is a signatory.
Protected areas may have different
management zones as follows (Calanog
et al., 2012).
1. Strict protection zones - off-limits to
all human activities except for scientific
studies and religious use by indigenous
communities.
2. Multiple use zones - allow different
activities within the prescribed
management plan, such as settlement,
traditional and sustainable land use,
agriculture, agroforestry, extraction
activities, and livelihood activities.
3. Sustainable use zones - natural areas
where habitat and biodiversity are
conserved in line with the Protected
Areas Management Board (PAMB)
management plan. Only indigenous
community members, tenured migrants,
and buffer zones residents are allowed
to enter, collect, and use the natural
resources using traditional and
sustainable practices that enhance
biodiversity conservation. Research and
reintroduction of indigenous species
may also be undertaken.
4. Restoration zones – environmentally
degraded zones that need to revive their
natural habitat and biodiversity. Area
re-zoning and stricter protection levels
are employed, making these zones
off-limits to human activities except
during the natural regeneration stage
where initial human interventions are
allowed for fire control, cogon
suppression, and indigenous species
reintroduction/restoration.
5. Habitat management zones - contain
natural habitats, particularly rare,
threatened, and endangered species
that require periodic maintenance and
management.
6. Special use zones – set aside for
special uses (such as telecommunication
facilities, irrigation canals, or electric
power lines) and are retained upon
mutual agreement among the
concerned parties provided such use
does not violate any of the prohibitions
inside the protected area.
7. Cultural zones – contain significant
cultural, religious, spiritual, and
anthropological values where traditional
rites exist and cultural ceremonies and
practices take place.
8. Recreational zones – promote
recreational, tourism, educational, and
environmental awareness values.
Sustainable tourism, recreational
conservation education, and public
awareness activities are allowed in
accordance with the PAMB management
plan.
9. Buffer zones – located outside and
adjacent to the protected area that is
still under the control of the PAMB.
These are effective multiple-use zones
that serve as a social fence to prevent
human intervention and other threats
into the protected area.
Based on the law, ecotourism is not
possible in a protected area except in
the recreational use zone.
Assessment Phase
Assessment is to be done by the
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) through a group
composed of local stakeholders and the
Protected Area Supervisor (PASu), with
the latter acting as the leader.
a. Preliminary Site Evaluation
(PSE) The preliminary site evaluation is
carried out to determine if a site has the
potential to be developed into an
ecotourism site. The criteria are as
follows:
1. Presence of significant potential
natural and/or cultural attractions
2. Ease of providing visitor access to the
attraction
3. How well the attractions can be
adequately protected from visitor
impacts
4. Security and environmental hazard
issues
5. Presence of sufficient management
and administrative authority of the
ecotourism program at the site
6. Availability of initial funding if needed
7. Commitment of protected area
managers, tour operators, and
communities to adhere to ecotourism
guidelines, such as low impact, small
groups, impact monitoring, and
community participation
8. Whether ecotourism could improve
biodiversity health and conservation
efforts.
b. Full Site Assessment Criteria
The full site assessment will entail one
month. This phase is also done by the
DENR group composed of the PASu and
local tourism stakeholders, with the As the basis for the actual physical and
PASu acting as the leader. program development of ecotourism in
the protected area, the Ecotourism
In the full site assessment process, Management Plan should include:
evaluators will consider the following
criteria: 1. Site profile – contains relevant
general information about the site
1. Access 2. Tourism situation – describes
2. Zoning development that can still be introduced
3. Tourism built-up areas, if any in the site
4. Development limitations 3. Issues and concerns to developing
5. Ecotourism products and sustaining ecotourism – include
6. Ecotourism operation environmental, social, financial, and
7. Community participation institutional issues
8. Skills and training needs of 4. Ecotourism planning for the site
communities – appropriate development for the site;
9. Marketing ecotourism products, detailed physical
10. Site management plan
11. Visitor management 5. Vision, goals, and objectives
12. Partnerships 6. Strategies covering
a. Zoning
Planning Phase b. Site planning and design
Ecotourism Management Planning c. Sustainable infrastructure design
(EMP) must involve relevant d. Visitor management
stakeholders. These stakeholders include e. Revenue generation
the Local Government Unit (LGU), the
Department of Tourism (DOT), National The EMP document must contain the
Economic and Development Authority following:
(NEDA), local community, indigenous
people, and the private sector. The EMP 1. Existing Situation
is to be finished in three months. 2.Tourism Profile
3.Plan

The waiting time for securing the

approval will take one month.
The full cycle from the preliminary site
assessment (PSA) up to the start of the
implementation of the ecotourism
management plan is six months and one
week.
Ecotourism Business Plan
Once the EMP has been approved by
PAMB, the ecotourism business plan can
now be drawn up. The business plan is
to be formulated by the local
government unit and the private sector
in two months. The business plan is sent
back to the Regional Ecotourism
Committee for review, which will entail a
period of one month. After the review,
the business plan is again forwarded to
the PAMB for approval. Waiting time to
get the approval is one month.
The contents of an ecotourism business
plan are the following:
1. Executive summary
2. Product or service description
3. Ecotourism industry analysis.
4. Marketing strategy
5. Financial projections
6. Monitoring and evaluation
The full cycle from the preliminary site
assessment to the start of the
implementation of the business plan is
ten months and one week.
Implementation Phase
DENR Administrative Order Number
2007-17
● provides for the rules and
regulations governing the
issuance of SAPA.
Special use Agreement in Protected
Area (SAPA)
● is a binding instrument between
the DENR, through the Protected
Area Development and
Management (PAMB) as the first
party, and a second party who
could be any of the following:
indigenous people, tenured
migrants, LGU, NGO, other
government entities, and private
sector such as corporations,
business establishment, and
cooperatives.
● The SAPA may be issued in a
protected area except in Strict
Nature Reserves.
● The grant of SAPA is subject to
the issuance of an Environmental
Compliance Certificate (ECC) and
approval by the DENR Secretary
or his duly authorized
representative.
● Along with ecotourism facilities
and campsites, other special
issues include communication
facilities, transmission lines,
irrigation canals/waterways,
 rights-of-way (e.g., transmission b. Laws that protect local ownership of
lines, communication facilities), ecotourism projects thus allowing
and aqua culture. financial benefits from ecotourism to be
● SAPA has an effectivity of 25 earned and retained within local
years and may be extended communities
subject to review. c. Local ownership rights on natural and
cultural resource base
Community-based Resource d. Visitors’ safety and security
Management Agreement
● is “an agreement entered into by 2. At the community level:
and between the DENR and the a. The place must have unique natural
organized tenured migrant features and attractive scenery, with the
communities or interested presence of endemic plants and animals.
indigenous peoples in protected b. An ecosystem that is able to handle
areas and buffer zones which has varying levels of visitation stress
a term of twenty-five (25) years c. Interest and awareness of the
and renewable for another opportunities and risks involved in
twenty-five (25) years.” ecotourism
e. Presence of a community organization
to ensure effective decision-Making
Site Assessment in a Non-Protected f. Respect and protection measures for
Area local indigenous systems and values
Prerequisites for Ecotourism g. Means for marketing ecotourism
Development activities/enterprise in partnership with
other stakeholders in the value chain
According to the Manual on h. A local champion for ecotourism, and
Community-based Ecotourism written by community acceptance of ecotourism as
Calanog et al. (2012), ecotourism an activity
success requires that the following
conditions be met: Preliminary Site Assessment
According to Calanog et al. (2012), the
1. At the national/municipal level: following tools can be used in the PSE:
a. An economic, political, and legislative 1. Participatory Rural Assessment (PRA)
framework to ensure effective trading 2. Scoping/Pre-feasibility Study
and security of investment
3.Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-
Threats (SWOT) Analysis
Full Feasibility Study (FFS)
The FFS process entails the following
steps:
1. Stocktaking Review. This includes
secondary data gathering on the
biophysical and socio economic profile
of the area. These data could be
gathered from such sources as:
a. The General Management Plan (for a
site within a protected area)
b. the town or city’s Comprehensive
Land Use Plan (CLUP)
c. Market surveys
d. Previous related studies on the area
2. Data on Biophysical Resources. This
can be through vegetation survey, faunal
survey, and soil and water survey. Key
informant interviews and questionnaires
can also be used as complementary
methods. This is also called natural
resource inventory.
3. Primary Data on Social Resources.
This provides a clear understanding of
the profile, needs, aspirations, problems,
potentials, and capabilities of the local
people with respect to ecotourism.
4. Data Validation. This can be done
through consultative meetings and
workshops to confirm the data
generated and the analysis and
interpretations made. It also helps in
evaluating the acceptability and
workability of the proposed ecotourism
enterprise.
Module 3: Ecotourism Design
GOOD DESIGN IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE
FULL ENJOYMENT OF ECOTOURISM
SITES. A WELL- DESIGNED ECOTOURISM
FACILITY PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL
PRESERVATION, CULTURAL SENSITIVITY,
INCLUSION, GENDER SENSITIVITY, AND
SAFETY. IN COUNTRIES LOCATED NEAR
THE EQUATOR, IT IS ADVISABLE TO
FOLLOW TROPICAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES.
GOOD DESIGN PRINCIPLES
ACCORDING TO RAWSTHORN (2008),
SOMETHING IS WELL-DESIGNED IF IT
FULFILLS ITS FUNCTION EFFICIENTLY BUT
IS ALSO BEAUTIFUL. ACCORDING TO
HER, A WELL-DESIGNED PRODUCT IS
EASY TO USE, TECHNOLOGICALLY
INNOVATIVE, ETHICALLY MADE, AND
ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY.
A WELL-DESIGNED ECOTOURISM
FACILITY SHOULD ENABLE THE
EXPLORATION OF A PLACE AND CREATE
SATISFYING EXPERIENCES. IT SHOULD BE
ETHICALLY MADE (E.G., DOES NOT
INVOLVE EXPLOITATIVE LABOR OR
RESULT TO ANIMAL CRUELTY) AND
MUST BE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND.
CHOOSING AN ECOTOURISM SITE
Choosing where to establish an
ecotourism facility requires knowledge
of where the ecotourism spots are.
In the Philippines, ecotourism sites had
been selected based on their natural
and/or cultural features, availability of
ecotourism product(s), level of
Social/political support, accessibility
from major international and domestic
gateways and tourism sites, current
market demand from international and
domestic visitors including the potential
appeal to these markets, availability of
visitor facilities and services, local
benefits accruing to the community
through livelihood and employment
opportunities, and peace and order,
security and safety (National Ecotourism
Strategy, 2002).
Mehta (n.d.) advised that an ecotourism
site must have access to public utilities,
proximity to various transportation
modes and transportation
infrastructure, and social services. Places
of spiritual value (e.g., burial places)
must not be built over but preserved.
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING DESIGN
Fisher (1992 in Soliman & El-Din Rashed,
2002) listed five major principles of
an environmentally sustainable building
design:
(1) healthful interior environment,
(2) energy efficiency,
(3) environmental
form,
(4) use of ecological materials, and
(5) good Design.
ECOTOURISM FACILITY DESIGN
THE DESIGN AND APPEARANCE OF THE
ECOTOURISM FACILITY SHOULD BE
COMPATIBLE WITH THE LANDSCAPE AND
LOCAL CONDITIONS. THE OVERARCHING
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY OF THE FACILITY
SHOULD BE CLIMATE-SENSITIVE AND
EXUDE A STRONG “SENSE OF PLACE.”
A SENSE OF PLACE IS THE FEELING OF
BEING IN A UNIQUE AND AUTHENTIC
SETTING AS COMPARED TO WHAT ONE
FEELS WHEN IN A REPLICATED SITE
(REPLICA TOURISM). CREATING A SENSE
OF PLACE INVOLVES ACCENTUATING ALL
THE SENSORY ELEMENTS THAT MAKE
THE PLACE UNIQUE-SIGHT, SOUND,
SMELL, TEXTURE, AND TASTE (MEHTA,
N.D.).
The facility must be designed so that it
does not dominate landscape features.
For example, the building should not be
taller than the trees and built on top of a
hill that it breaks the natural contour of
the land.
Moreover, “biomimicry” may be
employed such as tree-house
accommodation in a forested area. For
landscaping, endemic, low maintenance
plant species must be used. Imported
plants sometimes cause species
infestation and wiping out of local
plants.
Outdoor lighting
● may be used on pathways for
orientation and safety but not
spotlights or floodlights, which
create light pollution. To further
reduce the lighting, movement
sensors and portable lights may
be used.
Do not plant trees that will
obstruct a nice view; mangrove
planting along coastlines where there
are beautiful rock formations is not
advised. When natural scenery is not
visible in certain cottages, a garden may
be built within a courtyard, with each
unit having direct access to it by way of
wide doors. Buildings must be below the
tree line and ridgeline to preserve the
natural appearance of a place (Mehta,
n.d.).
TROPICAL DESIGN
In a tropical country like the Philippines,
tropical architecture is most applicable.
According to Gut et al. (1993 in Ossen,
Abdul Majid, & Ahmad, 2008), the main
principles in designing a tropically
responsive building are:
1. Heat gain minimization during
daytime and heat loss maximization at
night in hot seasons;
2. Site selection according to
micro-climatic variables (e.g., air
temperature extremes between day and
night, humidity and precipitation,
radiation, winds);
3. Building structure optimization with
respect to thermal storage and time lag;
4. Control of solar radiation; and
5. Regulating air circulation.
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
● Danger zones in an ecotourism
park must be clearly marked. The
roofs of cottages, visitor center,
lodges, and other covered
structures must be able to
withstand 150 kph winds
(Calanog et al., 2012).
● An ecotourism facility should be
prepared for emergency
 situations such as bush fire. There IN PARTICULAR, WOMEN AND LGBTQ
should be water tanks installed VISITORS SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN
for such eventuality (Gil, 2009) COMFORT ROOMS.

DESIGNATE TRAILS FOR BIKING AND TOILETS FOR WOMEN MUST HAVE
HIKING TO PREVENT PARK USERS FROM MORE TOILET CUBICLES THAN TOILETS
WANDERING INTO POTENTIALLY FOR MALES. SOME AREAS ARE MORE
DANGEROUS AREAS. LIBERAL THAN OTHERS WHEREIN
GENDER-NEUTRAL TOILETS ARE
CULTURAL SENSITIVITY INSTALLED FOR MALE, FEMALE, AND
THE ECOTOURISM FACILITY MUST APPLY PEOPLE OF ANY GENDER IDENTITY
CULTURAL SENSITIVITY IN THE (MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ
PROVISION AND DESIGN OF FACILITIES. COMMUNITY). HOWEVER, MORE
CONSERVATIVE SOCIETIES WILL ONLY
FOR EXAMPLE, SIGNAGE MUST BE INSTALL SEPARATE TOILETS FOR MALE
MULTILINGUAL BASED ON THE BIGGEST AND FEMALE.
NATIONALITY GROUPS VISITING THE
AREA. TOILET FACILITIES MUST
ACCOMMODATE CULTURAL AND
RELIGIOUS PREFERENCES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE MUST BE A

COMBINATION OF BOTH WESTERN
(SITTING-TYPE) AND EASTERN STYLE
(SQUATTING TYPE) TOILETS. TOILET
PAPER, BIDET, OR HAND SHOWERS
MUST BE AVAILABLE. IF A PLACE HAS A
SIZABLE NUMBER OF MUSLIM VISITORS,
PRAYER ROOMS COULD ALSO BE HAHAHAAHAHAHAAHA AWIT SASABAK
PROVIDED. SA EXAM NA WALANG PROF AT TINURO.
hindi naman ganitong college life ang
GENDER SENSITIVITY napapanuod ko sa movies ih…. ANYWAY
THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE MUST BE GOOD LUCK SAYO !! kaldagan mo lang,
TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION IN THE papasa ka na :)) MWA
DESIGN OF FACILITIES. — AYA