EVIDENDES OF CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON ECOTOURISM

AT THE CARAMOAN, CAMARINES SURA Documentation Paper Presented to

DR. MILAGROS MAGSANOC

Philippine Women's University

Taft Avenue, Manila

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Subject

Special Topic in Hospitality

By:

Aireen Y. Clores

December 2009Part I

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe promoters of adventure or ecotourism have popularized slogans such as: Go visit the last paradises before theyll be destroyed by tourist hordes. Ecotourism is a growing niche market within the larger travel industry, with the potential of being an important sustainable development too. Ecotourism can be a legitimate use of a countrys nature resources. It can be an effective vehicle for understanding and respecting native cultures and natural environments (flora and fauna). However, ecotourism has widespread environmental, social and economic impacts and if it is not managed properly, and is inconsiderate or oblivious of environmental concerns, it can also destroy these invaluable resources. According to Jerichow (2009), ecotourism may be a solution to the tourism industrys climate threat. Climate is an essential resource for tourism, and especially for beach, nature and winter sport tourism, and the phenomenon of global warming already gravely affects the industry and an increasing number of destinations.

One of its primary responsibilities of the Department of Tourism is to promote sustainable tourism development and conserve the environment. The Philippines is one big ecotourism destination and one of the top 25 biodiversity spots in the world in which part of it is Caramoan, Camarines Sur, the countrys best kept-secret paradises and the site of five Survivor Editions.

Tourism assets are mostly nature based where tourism sector must rapidly respond to climate change and progressively reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The relationship between tourism and global warming is a paradoxical one: global warming has become a threat to tourism, yet tourism remains a major cause of global warming.

The small town of Caramoan is located at the tip of Caramoan Peninsula, a rugged place of land extending into the waters of the Maqueda Channel on the North and East and Lagonoy Gulf on the South. There is little known about the town Caramoan where it gives island hopping a new meaning. Ocean adventures for kayakers, snorkel and scuba dive to experience the diverse marine life, trek and search for the enigmatic lagoon, rock climb the limestone cliffs, explore the caves or just star gaze at night. Isolated from the rest of Camarines Sur, it is no surprise why Philippine's Secret Paradise remains unexploited from commercial tourism.Caramoan Islands is consists of splendid islands and islets and boasts off Gotah Island/Beach being one of the most visited. Enticing in its subtlety wide open powdery-white beaches, exotic islets, thick foliage and crystal clear waters that teems with an underwater paradise, Caramoan, Camarines Sur is indeed an unspoiled, idyllic and breathtaking place to visit. This hidden paradise already played hosts to five Survivor editions, (France, Turkey, Israel, Bulgaria and Serbia). With five Survivor editions done in Caramoan, this makes this town a cut above the other Survivor sites. The breathtaking views provided by Caramoan made it a perfect site for the Survivor edition, a testament of this is the teaser that was released by the Survivor editions in other countries.Caramoan is a five-hour trip either by bus from Naga City to Sabang, San Jose and by boat to Caramoan or directly by land through the Caramoan Peninsula Road, one will be amply rewarded with beautiful beaches with fine white sand beside majestic limestone and marble mountains as well as a taste of adventure in its exotic islets with coves nearby.According to Municipal Tourism Officer Norma Tendilla, the town was then rustic and dull but became an instant force in tourism scene worldwide and generated excellent news to local folks since revenues are generated with all exposure the town receives from promotional efforts of the provincial government. There is an overflow of tourist with families and the local town folks benefited by this influx of mass tourism. More and more tourists are expected to flock in to this hidden paradise to seek one of a kind adventure and enjoy life in an unusual yet very unforgettable way. With this development that is taking place in Caramoan more government projects were built to further enhance tourism activities and improved existing facilities that are being implemented to accommodate the growing tourist arrival. A report of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said that the province posted a whopping 902,202 tourists arrivals during the first six months of this year. The figure earned for the province the distinction as the most-favored tourism destination in the Philippines, eclipsing 16 other fabulous spots including former top rankers Cebu, Puerto Princesa, Bohol, Boracay and Puerto Galera. But can ecotourism be a solution to global climate change? How aware are the local tourism players and professionals in the town of Caramoan the effects of climate change to their tourism industry most especially their eco-destinations?

Therefore, this paper discusses the level of knowledge of tourism practitioners the local tourism planners and promoters, managers and stakeholders on the aspect of ecotourism and its implications to the climate change, their suggestions concerning possible actions that can be taken to reduce tourism's impacts on the world climate and the actual actions to be implemented to resolve the issues.

Part II

Problems and ConcernsIdentified problems and concerns during the survey: