NPF Research Institute - Sustainable Tourism Framework for Natural and Cultural Heritage

Nayong Pilipino

RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Sustainable Tourism Framework for Natural and Cultural Heritage

Background In 2019, Domestic Tourism contributed 10.8 percent to the gross domestic product with Php 3.14 trillion earnings. Although this has dropped significantly due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, 77% of 12,000 Filipino respondents expressed willingness to travel to local destinations post COVID-19. Tourism is expected to be a driving force to the Philippine economy.1 This framework is intended to guide decision-makers, tourism stakeholders, local government units and residents as they plan and open new tourist destinations. This document may also be used to evaluate the sustainability of existing products and experiences.

Definition of Terms 1. Filipinos- Filipino citizens living in the Philippines who are members of communities.

2. Communities- Geographic areas where tourism programs are implemented; places frequented by visitors for tourism.

3. Visitors- Persons who visit communities for the purpose of tourism, whether living in the Philippines or abroad. These include “Foreign Visitors”, who are all passengers using foreign passports;2 and local visitors, who are Filipino citizens residing in the Philippines.

4. Environment - The Philippine natural landscape and seascape, which includes all forms of ecosystems, wildlife, biodiversity and other flora and fauna.

5. Economy- involves the economic aspect of tourism: wages, prices and GDP 6. Natural Heritage- natural features consisting of physical and biological formations or groups of such formations, which are of outstanding universal value from the aesthetic or scientific point of view; geological and physiographical formations and precisely delineated areas which constitute the habitat of threatened species of animals and plants of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation; natural sites or precisely delineated natural areas of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science, conservation of natural beauty."3 4 7. Cultural Heritage- The totality of cultural property preserved and developed through time and passed on to posterity5, which includes tangible and intangible heritage.

7.1.1. Built Heritage - These include monuments, architectural works, buildings, houses and other structures built by humans; 7.1.2. Moveable Heritage -These include cultural objects such as paintings, archaeological artifacts and ethnographic materials.

7.2. Intangible Heritage - Refers to the practices, representational expressions, knowledge and skills, as well as instruments, objects and artifact associated therewith, that communities, groups and individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage, such as: (1) oral traditions, languages and expressions; (2) performing arts; (3) social practices, rituals and festive events; (4) knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe; and (5) traditional craftsmanship.6 These include, but are not limited to, the Hudhud chants of the Ifugao;7 The Buklog, the thanksgiving ritual of the Subanen;8 Tugging rituals of the Ifugao;9 and the Darangan epic of the Maranao people of Lake Lanao10.

1 LGU assessment checklist 2 Section 4(u), IRR of RA 9593) (http://tourism.gov.ph/Downloadable%20Files/RA%209593.pdf 3 As defined by the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention https://whc.unesco.org/en/conventiontext/.

4 Note: 10066 does not define “natural heritage” per se; it defines “Natural Property of cultural significance” as areas possessing outstanding ecosystems with flora and fauna of national scientific importance under the National INtegrated Protected Areas System.” (Article II Section 3(dd).

5 Article II Section 3(l), RA 10066 6 Article II Section 3(x), RA 10066; Note: This definition was lifted from the 2003 UNESCO Convention on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage https://ich.unesco.org/en/convention).

7 https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/hudhud-chants-of-the-ifugao-00015 8 https://ich.unesco.org/en/USL/buklog-thanksgiving-ritual-system-of-the-subanen-01495 9 https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/tugging-rituals-and-games-01080 10 https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/darangen-epic-of-the-maranao-people-of-lake-lanao-00159

nayongpilipino.gov.ph

7.1. Tangible Heritage - A type of cultural heritage that involves cultural materials manifested through tangible objects such as archaeological and ethnographic objects, buildings, monuments and sites

01

7.3. Living Heritage - characterized by the ongoing use of heritage by its associated community for the purpose of which it was originally created.11 Used primarily to describe the continuous use and practice of intangible cultural heritage. May apply to structures whose present use is consistent with the original intention.

8. Sustainable Tourism- The management of all resources that meets the needs of tourists and host regions while protecting the opportunities for the future, in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems,12 while at the same time, ensuring the economical sustainability of communities and effective visitor experiences.

Vision: The Philippines and Filipinos are enriched through sustainable tourism practices anchored on the country’s natural and cultural heritage.

Guiding Principles

nayongpilipino.gov.ph

1. Sustainable - Tourism should be environmentally, culturally, socially and economically sustainable.

2. Enriching - Tourism should enrich the lives of Filipinos direct and indirectly involved in the industry.

3. Inclusive - Tourism requires the participation and cooperation of both the private and public sectors.

4. Appropriate - Some sites, while teeming with tourism potential should not be developed into destinations due to the social, environmental and cultural risks that tourism activity brings. Tourism should ensure that the country’s rich natural and cultural heritage will still be enjoyed by future generations of Filipinos.

02 Sustainable Tourism

11 “People-Centered Approaches to the Conservation of Cultural Heritage: Living Heritage”, ICCROM 12 Section 4(v), IRR of 9593 downloadable

Desired Outcome

Strategies

Filipinos and communities

Filipinos’ quality of life is improved by tourism.

1. Consult and coordinate needs across stakeholder groups: Tourists, Residents, Government, Tourism Industry, Natural and Cultural Heritage stakeholders.

2. Practice inclusive decision-making.

3. Respect social norms and cultures of local and indigenous communities.

4. Advocate socially and culturally responsible tourism behaviors.

5. Encourage and facilitate local ownership and participation in the tourism industry.

6. Direct tourism revenues towards socio-economic programs for local communities.

Environment

Tourism activity protects and does not degrade the Philippines’ natural environment, ecosystems nor threaten the wildlife

Economy

Growth is equitable and sustainable

1. Adopt ecosystems and biodiversity conservation principles when developing and engaging in natural heritage tourism activities.

2. Manage and reduce solid waste, wastewater, and freshwater consumption.

3. Promote reuse and recycling.

4. Adopt energy efficiency, conservation and management policies at tourism sites.

5. Retain the unique elements of the region or place, as defined by key stakeholders.

6. Regulate air and noise pollution.

7. Support environmentally responsible behaviors.

8. Mitigate the impacts of climate change where and whenever possible.

9. Strive for Carbon-Neutrality in tourism related operations.

10. Identify and designate tourism z

1. Integrate tourism in regional and local economic development plans.

2. Create and maintain a business friendly environment.

3. Conduct regular evaluation of tourism products among visitors and suppliers.

4. Conduct regular market analysis and initiate datadriven marketing campaigns.

5. Meet international standards throughout the tourism value chain.

Checklist

nayongpilipino.gov.ph

Component

03

Desired Outcome

Strategies

Natural Heritage

Natural heritage resources are responsibly used in tourism initiatives for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

1. Meet international best practices with regards to the conservation and management of natural heritage resources.

2. Train tourism frontliners with regards to natural heritage conservation and management 3. Introduce personal and non-personal interpretation at natural heritage tourist sites to elevate the tourism experience.

4. Apply Interpretation and Presentation strategies in the design of tourism experiences

Cultural Heritage

Cultural heritage - both tangible and intangible are responsibly used in tourism initiatives for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

1. Meet international best practices with regards to the conservation and management of cultural heritage resources.

2. Train tourism frontliners with regards to cultural heritage conservation and management 3. Introduce personal and non-personal interpretation at cultural heritage tourist sites to elevate the tourism experience.

4. Apply Interpretation and Presentation strategies in the design of tourism experiences

Visitors

Local and International visitors have exceptional tourist experiences

1. Ensure a smooth experience throughout the tourism value chain 2. Develop high value products by applying Interpretation Principles.

3. Conduct regular evaluation of customer experiences.

4. Redesign products and services as needed 5. Train industry frontliners on Triple Bottom Line, Natural and Cultural Heritage Issues and Management 6. Ensure continuing education for industry frontliners to meet International Best Practices 7. Ensure safety and emergency preparedness of tourist destinations and frontliners

Checklist

nayongpilipino.gov.ph

Component

04

Research Institute

The Sustainable Tourism Framework for Natural and Cultural Heritage is a knowledge product produced in 2020 by Dr. Elma Laguna, Kara Garilao, Kate Tantuico, and Dr. Laya Boquiren-Gonzales for the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) Research Institute.

The NPF Research Institute is a knowledge development center that conducts research on the following fields: Philippine Natural and Cultural Heritage, Sustainable Heritage Tourism and Ecotourism, Tourism Governance, Cultural and Creative Industries, and related areas. The Research Institute also serves as a think-do-tank on public policies concerning heritage, cultural and creative industries, and tourism. It fulfills NPF’s mandate under Presidential Decree No. 37 to promote, encourage, and initiate research and development projects on social sciences, humanities, and related fields.

nayongpilipino.gov.ph

nayongpilipinofoundation

nayongpilipino.museo

atingnayon