Spatial Circulation in Selected Beach Resorts of Toril,

Davao City in terms of Navigability: A Comparative

Study

Joanna Mae P. Caylan 1 and Iluminado D. Quinto Jr.2

1Student, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines

2Professor, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract
The study aims to compare the spatial circulation in selected beach resorts of Toril, Davao City in terms of navigability.
Spatial circulation, defined as the movement of individuals within the resort areas, and navigability, which pertains to the
ease of movement and navigation within resort spaces, are key factors influencing the overall user experience. Utilizing a
descriptive research method involving observation and documentation, the research focuses on assessing the layout,
pathways, signage, and design features that impact navigability within the chosen beach resorts. By analyzing the spatial
circulation patterns and navigability features, the study seeks to provide valuable insights into the design and user
experience of these destinations. The ultimate goal is to offer recommendations for enhancing the navigability and user-
friendliness of beach resorts contributing to a more enjoyable and efficient visitor experience in these coastal destination.

Keywords: Spatial circulation, navigability, beach resorts, Davao City

SDG Indicator: #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, #12 Responsible Consumption and Production, #14 Life Belo

Introduction
The spatial circulation and navigability of beach resorts
are crucial factors that contribute to the overall user
experience and satisfaction of visitors. Spatial circulation,
referring to the movement of people within the resort
areas, and navigability, pertaining to the ease of
navigation and wayfinding, have a significant impact on
the accessibility and enjoyment of these coastal
destinations (Gössling et al., 2012; Lew & McKercher,
2006). Across the vast body of knowledge relative to
spatial circulation and navigability, there is a paucity of
informative literature that provides empirical information
regarding navigable beach resorts and their design
layouts. This gap in the existing research presents an
opportunity to explore the navigability features of beach
resorts in Toril, Davao City, a region known for its coastal
tourism and development. By examining the spatial
circulation patterns and navigability characteristics of
selected beach resorts in Toril, Davao City.
Context
The study aims to identify strengths and weaknesses in
each resort's spatial circulation and provide
recommendations for improvements. More intuitive
navigability could reduce visitor confusion and frustration,
enhancing the overall tourist experience. Proper planning
and design focused on spatial circulation could improve
visitor experience at these beautiful destinations. The
resort can be interpreted as a planned area located on
land related to tourist attractions, which has a function
that is as a place to stay, rest, and recreation with
additional special facilities. Special facilities can be
sports, convention, religious, and other business
purposes. Spatial circulation refers to the ease of
movement between places within a space, while
navigability is the ease with which people and vehicles
can find their way around. Factors such as walkways,
signage, and connectivity can impact navigability. A study
will be conducted on two (2) popular beach resorts in
Toril: Resort A and Resort B. Data will be collected
through site observations, mapping, and surveys,
analyzing the layout of walkways, signage placement,
and connectivity between different sections.
Figure 1. A beach resort with efficient spatial circulation.
Related Literature
This section aims to review the related literature of this
study. The spatial circulation of beach resorts plays a
crucial role in enhancing visitor experiences and
managing tourist flows. Various studies highlight the
significance of zoning, transportation strategies, and
spatial characteristics in promoting environmental and
social experiences within resort areas. Effective transit
circulation strategies, such as those implemented in
Virginia Beach, can mitigate traffic congestion and
improve visitor mobility (Susan, A., et al., 2000). The
zoning in most of the resorts is not only used as a
planning tool to enhance the environmental and social
experience but also to allow tourist to feel safe in the
resort (Raschid, M., et al., 2014). Additionally, studies on
coastal land-use change emphasize the importance of
GIS-based methodologies for predicting and managing
spatial developments in resort areas (Jeffrey, S., et al.,
2003). In the study of safety navigation within beach
resorts, ensuring clear signage and visible markings
along pathways is paramount to guide visitors safely
through the complex terrain. Adequate lighting, especially
during nighttime, enhances visibility and reduces the risk
of accidents (Knowles, 2007). Furthermore, maintaining
pathways free from obstacles and ensuring sturdy
construction of walkways and bridges are

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essential for preventing slips, and falls. Regular Lew and McKercher (2006) further explore the concept of
maintenance and periodic safety inspections of navigability, highlighting its influence on the overall user
infrastructure and amenities contribute to a safe and experience and satisfaction of visitors. They suggest that
enjoyable experience for resort guests. the design and layout of beach resorts can either
On the basis of the potentials for the growth of local enhance or hinder the ease of movement and navigation,
economy, A well-designed and navigable layout can ultimately affecting the visitors' perceptions and
significantly enhance the visitor experience at beach enjoyment of the destination. The IM4Davao report
resorts, leading to an increase in the number of visitors (2020) provides an overview of the metropolitan Davao
(Choi et al. 2016). Clear pathways and signage make it region, noting that most beach resorts are located in
easier for guests to explore the resort, discover Samal City and other coastal municipalities, while Davao
amenities, and access recreational areas. With a user- City itself is more focused on urban services, commercial
friendly layout, visitors are more likely to stay longer and centers, and MICE facilities.
return for future visits, contributing to higher occupancy
rates and increased revenue for the resort. Additionally,
positive word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied
guests attracted to the resort's navigable layout can Research Area
further boost its popularity and attract new visitors. On
Vales Beach Resort and Kalayaan Beach Resort, two (2)
the international scheme, the result of investigation of the
beach resorts in Toril, Davao City, would be the focus of
ocean space development status, an ocean resort
an experiment in this study. The principal aim of the
complex was proposed at the small harbor with a parallel
study is to compare the spatial circulation patterns of
beach in the east coast of Korea. As the development
these two beach resorts and assess the effects of these
plan needs to reclaim the noticeable amount of coastal
variations on the accessibility of interior and external
water area together with the applied shore facilities, it is
spaces for users. This study also aims to pinpoint precise
necessary to analyze their impacts (Kim, P., et al., 2012).
locations where architectural alterations can boost user
Spatial layout planning is one of the most ubiquitous and
accessibility and improve spatial circulation. The way
the most complex problems in architectural design. The
guests walk around beach resorts is greatly influenced by
essence of the majority of architectural configurations
their spatial arrangements. To improve their design and
can be captured by the building’s circulation system,
management practices, beach resorts must comprehend
which is a key organizing mechanism of its spatial layout.
how their spaces circulate differently from one another.
An efficient floor plan allows a building user to navigate in
The study intends to shed light on how these beach
a sequential, natural fashion and research in cognitive
resorts' spatial configurations affect guests' ease of
science has indicated that various spatial configurational
navigation by critically examining their spatial layout and
features of a building can strongly influence human
design. By identifying areas for improvement in terms of
orientation and navigation (Natapov, A., et al., 2015).
navigability, designers and managers of beach resorts
Moreover, according to (Susan, et al., 2000) any resort
can build surroundings that are more accommodating to
areas and other major activity centers are facing
the demands of users. Finally, the goal of this research is
transportation challenges as rising traffic congestion
to add basic understanding that would guide future
erodes the quality of a visitor's experience. Many resort
design interventions and improve guests' overall
areas have turned to public transportation as an
experience at Davao City's Toril beach resorts.
alternative strategy for visitor circulation, but these
services often become enmeshed in the same traffic jam
that they were intended to circumvent. The city of Virginia
Beach, Virginia, undertook an aggressive, long-term
effort to establish and enhance an effective transit
circulation in its beachfront resort area through a
combination of physical design improvements and
operational management. The development and A question that is to be answered by this study:
implementation of the combination strategy are
described, and lessons learned that are relevant to other How does the spatial circulation of selected beach
resort-area transit-circulator services are outlined. Resort resorts in Toril, Davao City differs in terms of navigability?
areas, like Virginia Beach, have implemented strategies
to improve transit circulation through physical design Ho: The Vales Beach Resort imposes in more navigable
enhancements and operational management, aiming to spatial layout compared to Kalayaan Beach Resort.
mitigate traffic congestion and enhance visitor experience Ho: The Kalayaan Beach Resort imposes in more
(Zelmarie, 2018). Resort towns provide a special navigable spatial layout compared to Vales Beach
example of urban settlement that satisfies what Cohen Resort.
calls the phenomenological ‘recreational’ mode of
tourism, in which the holidaymaker escapes his usual Methodology
environment and returns refreshed to his everyday life-
To attain the answer of this question - 'how does the
world. Their landscapes are shaped to enhance that
spatial circulation of selected beach resorts in Toril,
escape, and to facilitate it, leading to specialised urban
Davao City differs in terms of navigability?', is by
morphologies which require separate examination (D.,
academically conducting analysis with the help of
N., Jeans, 1990). Moreover, Gössling et al. (2012)
research methodology. Previous reviewed literature
emphasize the importance of spatial circulation and
greatly help in decision making in selecting the
navigability in beach resorts, stating that these factors
methodology of this study. Respectively, this study would
have a significant impact on the accessibility and
be a case study. Therefore, this study would fall under
enjoyment of coastal destinations. They define spatial
the category of exploratory methodology. Since the
circulation as the movement of people within the resort
research design of this study utilizes a hybrid of
areas, while navigability pertains to the ease of
qualitative and quantitative design, or a quasi-
navigation and wayfinding.
quantitative, a specified research methodology has been
prepared by the researcher. To deliver the desired results

2 AR416 / Research Methods for Architecture

the top priority was to identify the problem of the study. It
was then identified, and the researcher would be
focusing on finding answers on how to enhance the
spatial circulation of beach resorts through navigability.
The following comprehensive methodology can be used
to examine how the spatial circulation of particular beach
resorts in Toril, Davao City varies in terms of navigability.
To ensure a diverse representation, a sample of the local
beach resorts will first be discovered and chosen based
on a variety of sources. Then, information about each
resort's layout, features, and topography will be gathered,
along with details about accessibility, signs, walkways,
and general design elements that affect navigability. The
physical design and interconnectivity of each resort will
be examined using a spatial analysis, which will gauge
how convenient it is to travel around the property. To get
input on visitors' navigational experiences, surveys and
interviews will also be used for user experience
assessments. After that, a comparison study will be
conducted to find similarities and variations in the
navigability qualities among the chosen resorts. Maps or
other visual aids will be made to show the spatial
circulation patterns, and navigability measures will be
produced to quantify the degree of ease of navigation.
Finally, suggestions for improving the signage, walkway
design, accessibility features, and general layout to
maximize the tourist experience will be made in order to
improve the navigability of beach resorts in Toril, Davao
City. This research instrument aims to assess and
compare the spatial circulation and navigability features
of selected beach resorts in Toril, Davao City. The
methodology involves first selecting a sample of two
diverse beach resorts in the area based on information
from sources like Wanderlog, Tripadvisor, Agoda, and
Airbnb. Data will then be collected through on-site visits,
maps, and satellite imagery to gather spatial information
on the layout, pathways, signage, and accessibility
features of each resort. User surveys or interviews will
also be conducted to gather feedback on visitors'
navigational experiences. A spatial analysis will be
carried out to evaluate the ease of movement and identify
factors influencing navigability, such as the presence of
clear signage and landmarks. The user experience
assessment will analyze perceptions of ease of
movement, wayfinding challenges, and overall
satisfaction with the resort's layout. A comparative
analysis will then compare the spatial circulation patterns
and navigability features across the selected resorts,
identifying commonalities and differences. Quantitative
navigability metrics will be developed, and maps or visual
representations will be created to illustrate the spatial
circulation within each resort. Finally, recommendations
will be provided to enhance the navigability of beach
resorts in Toril, Davao City, suggesting improvements in
signage, pathway design, accessibility features, and
overall layout to optimize the visitor experience. The
research sample for assessing the spatial circulation will
utiliz and navigability of beach resorts in Toril, Davao
City consists of five diverse resorts, selected based on
geographical representation, size, and amenities. The
resorts include Vales Beach Resort and Kalayaan Beach
Resort each with unique characteristics such as location,
amenities, and layout. The study will utilize a
convenience non-probability sampling technique in order
to maximize the number of sample size in different age
arrays and are all users of the beach resort the day the
conduct of survey will be held. Data will be collected
through on-site visits to observe the resort layouts,
pathways, signage, and accessibility features, as well as
user surveys to gather feedback on visitors' navigational
experiences and satisfaction with the resort's design.
Additionally, maps and visual representations will be
created using GIS tools to illustrate the spatial circulation
within each resort. This diverse sample will provide a
comprehensive analysis of spatial circulation and
navigability across different types of resort layouts and
designs. The data collection for the spatial circulation and
navigability assessment of beach resorts in Toril, Davao
City will employ a multi-faceted approach. On-site
observations will be conducted to assess the physical
layout and design of each resort, evaluating the
pathways, signage, accessibility features, and overall
navigability. Detailed measurements of walking distances
and the presence of directional aids will be recorded.
User surveys will be developed to gather feedback from
visitors on their navigational experiences, including the
ease of movement, wayfinding challenges, and overall
satisfaction with the resort's layout. Demographic
information and suggestions for improvement will also be
collected through the surveys. Mapping and visualization
techniques using GIS software and satellite imagery will
be utilized to create detailed maps illustrating the
pathways, access points, and locations of key facilities
and amenities within the resorts. Photographic
documentation will capture the aesthetic and design
elements that may impact the user experience, as well as
specific areas or features that pose navigational
challenges. Additionally, secondary data will be collected
from the resorts' websites, brochures, and any existing
studies or reports to supplement the primary data.
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