THE Countryside Development RESEARCH JOURNAL

Status and Potentials of Ecotourism Sites in

Ronald L. Orale Samar State University, City, Philippines [email protected]

Abstract Samar is the third largest island in the Philippines blessed with world- class, less known ecotourism destination like highly diverse forest/ reefs, gigantic caves, waterfalls, beaches, etc. Tourist arrival share attributed mostly to the private sector remains very low because of poor intervention especially from the local government. Private-led initiatives to promote Samar’s world-class sites are relatively successful, bringing in tourists from all over the world. Samar’s ecotourism sites are rated by these tourists higher in terms of panoramic appeal but poor in terms of accessibility; support structure, services and facilities compared to the more known and government-supported destinations in the Philippines. Samar Island towns are one of the poorest in the Philippines. Increasing tourist arrival through improved government intervention will result into a better economic activity which will potentially reduce the poverty level in the three provinces of Samar.

Keywords: Samar, , Lobo Cave, Pinipisakan Falls, ecotourism, tourism

I. INTRODUCTION

The Philippines is as one of the top Asia identified Donsol Sorsogon’s Whale biodiversity hotspots in the world Shark Ecotourism Programme as one of (Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, the top 5 ecotourism destination in Asia 2013). It is also considered as one of (Lifestyle Asia, 2012). the world’s biologically rich countries (Conservation International, 2005). It In the year 2012, the travel and tourism is also one of the countries in the world sector in the Philippines accounted around gifted with so much natural attractions PhP 215.5 Billion (2% of Gross Domestic from ridge to reef. In 2012, the Philippines Product -GDP) direct contribution. underground river located in Puerto This amount accounted for with a total Princesa Palawan was chosen by contribution of PhP 740.5 Billion (7.0% worldwide voters as one of the new seven of GDP) (World Travel Tourism Council- wonders of nature (New7wonders, 2013). WTTC, 2013). The total contribution to Earlier in the same contest, Tubbataha GDP of travel and tourism is expected Reef National Marine Park, Chocolate to increase by 5.5% for 2013 and 6.0% Hills, and Mayon Volcano ranked per annum from 2014 to 2023 (ibid). 3rd, 5th, and 11th based on the votes This increase incorporated the projected garnered worldwide. In 2012, Lifestyle improvement of the tourism industry

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followed by a successful “It’s more fun supports to tourism in this part of the in the Philippines” promotional campaign country lead some small groups of nature with projected tourist arrival of 10Million lovers to introduce the hidden treasures by 2016 (Jimenez, 2013). Tourism is the of Samar their way. largest service industry with ecotourism considered the fastest growing sector It is the aim of this paper to present the (Dasenbrok, 2002). In the Philippines, ecotourism sites in Samar visited by five(5) of eight(8) top Philippine tourist tourists brought-in by private groups destination are eco-tourism sites or individuals. It presented the state of (Department of Tourism-DOT, 2009). ecotourism sites in terms of access, As compared to other countries in the facilities, availability of services, and Asia-Pacific Region, the Philippines quality of the site, risk and time of travel remains behind in terms of tourist arrival as perceived and experienced by tourists. (1.7%) (World Tourism Organization, Estimated potential revenue derived from 2011). Further, a CNN special report the ecotourism sites was conducted. showed Philippines still laggard in terms of tourist share despite the world-class II. METHODOLOGY scenery, adventure opportunities, friendly locals, fascinating history to name a few The study both used secondary and (Ehrlich, 2012). primary data. Data mining technique was used to generate information regarding Samar is the third largest island in the status and potentials of ecotourism sites Philippine archipelago after Luzon in Samar. Primary data were gathered and Mindanao (National Mapping and from travel blog owners and guides. Resource Information Authority-NAMRIA, The list of ecotourism sites were taken from 2012). It contains one of the Philippines’ the identified and recommended tourist largest unfragmented tracts of lowland sites of the Department of Tourism(DOT). rainforest (United Nations Development Other sites identified by local tour providers Programme, 2012). Its biodiversity is and those in the tourists’ travel blogs were considered globally significant as it also considered. A total of 20 travel blogs harbors some over 1000 species of owners were asked to rate the various plants (approximately 53% endemic) sites they have visited in terms of sites and 330 species (56% endemic) (ibid). strength and weaknesses of facilities, The Samar Island Biodiversity Project tour packages availability, access and (SIBP) was implemented from 2001 to panoramic quality. Networking sites 2011 with the aim of enacting a law to such as Facebook, Skype were used in establish the Samar Island Natural Park the dissemination of the questionnaires. (SINP). It is a new protected area zoned These assessments were reinforced for multiple uses centering on protection, by reviewing more than 35 uploaded but providing for sustainable use of non- YouTube videos, 20 travel blogs, personal timber forest products, operationalization site visits, and face to face interview with of park management in partnership with the most active tourism provider in Samar. forest-edge communities (PAWB, 2011). An act establishing the SINP is already Ecotourism sites were compared with the filed in congress and has been elevated known similar tourist destination. Local to Senate for second reading (Senate, sites were compared to the Underground 2013). The enactment of SINP will River of Palawan for caves, Pagsanjan provide a much-needed support by the Falls of Laguna for falls, and Cagayan tourism sector in Samar. At the moment, de Oro City river for white water rafting. the relatively limited and slow government Each respondent rated the Samar tourist

108 An official peer-reviewed journal published by SAMAR STATE UNIVERSITY THE Countryside Development RESEARCH JOURNAL destination from -5 to +5, (+) which One of the best options to generate means better, (-) which means poorer income is through tourism. Ecotourism and (same) as compared with a similar plays an important role because it creates tourist spot. Risk assessment used scale jobs in remote regions that historically with zero rating means absence of risk have benefited less from economic and five as high risk. The tourist was development programs in the more requested to rate based on perceived populous areas (Lindberg, 1996). risk before visit and post visit risk rating Some of Several Ecotourism based on what he/she experienced. The destinations in Samar risk areas include security, health hazard, geohazard and wildlife attack. Figure 1 is a group of pictures of some of the world-class quality ecotourism sites III. DISCUSSIONS in Samar. Samar is blessed with natural resources and attractions with every Samar Island towns are among the town having its own festivals, and several poorest in the country (NEDA 8, 2012). natural attractions to boast. Attractions

Lulugayan Falls Pinisakpisakan Falls / Sulpan Cave

Bangon-Bugtong Falls Lobo Cave

Ulot River Calbiga Cave Source of pictures: Joni Bonifacio Figure 1: Some of the world-class tourist destinations in Samar

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are present from ridge to reef. There are Most of the sites were rated far better more than 100 caves of various sizes in terms of panoramic appeal compared that have been discovered, and 1000 to more known tourist destinations such more to be discovered and documented as Pagsanjan Falls, Underground River, (Bonifacio, 2012). The huge number of and the Cagayan de Oro River. The same caves found in Samar Island makes it the sites however were rated very low in terms caving capital in the Philippines (DOT, of accessibility and available facilities. 2013). Except the Sohoton cave with almost similar physical stamina requirement, Ecotourism Sites Assessment by others require more especially for the Tourist, Guides and by Government Pinipisakan Falls, Sulpan Cave, Calbiga Offices Cave and Lobo Cave requiring long hours of walking in trails that have yet to be Appendix 1 summarizes the strength, improved. Most of the sites do not have weaknesses and how the site is compared restrooms, camping sites, picnic facilities by tourists to other similar most familiar and resting place. There is also limited and well-advertised tourism destination in transportation facilities devoted to tourism the country. activities. Access from the national highway into the tourist destinations is yet

Table 1. Tourist Assessment of Selected Ecotourism Destination in Samar

Ecotourism destination Site Assessment (By tourists, guides, others) & comparison* with the more known sites in the Philippines Strength Weakness Wished present Sohoton Cave One of the few ecotourism Some of its stalactites and Boats are not Samar attractions in stalagmites have been too noisy to be Region with good tourism support partly damaged. able to have a Comparison with structure. They have an organized good chitchat Underground River community-based support system, The boat ride is quite long. while cruising the from transportation, trained tour Golden River of Facilities (-1) guide, picnic facilities, tour facilities Basey. Tour packages such as lamps and gears, and park availability (-2) management set-up. The Basey Wish the boat Access (same) LGU has a tourism office ready trip is more Panoramic quality (+1) to accept visitors and provide entertaining like Stamina Required necessary assistance for the tour. in Bohol. (same) The chambers in the cave are easy to navigate. Calbiga Caves Dubbed as the second largest The more than one hour Good trail, resting Calbiga Samar cave in Asia. It covers a total walk requires visitors to area with facilities of 2968 has. It has at least 12 be physically fit. There is like rest room Comparison with interconnected caves with several a need to spend at least 3 Underground River giant columns of stalactites days to cover all sections/ The access and stalagmites, unique rock chamber of the caves. road needs to Facilities (-5) formations, about 20 underground be completed to Tour packages water courses and springs. The The entrance chamber reduce the time availability -(-3) cave system is home of rare stalactites and stalagmites of travel specially Access (-5) species of blind crabs, blind are heavily damaged. the time for Panoramic quality- (+2) fish, and home to hundreds of hiking. Stamina Required (+5) thousands of bats (Labro, 2011). It is also an ideal recreational and educational area for local and foreign visitors; Calbiga karst offers an ideal recreational ground for spelunking, mountain climbing and nature trekking. (DOT, 2012)

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Continuation of Table 1 Ecotourism destination Site Assessment (By tourists, guides, others) & comparison* with the more known sites in the Philippines Strength Weakness Wished present Lulugayan Falls There are a little more than 100 There are no facilities Good trail, picnic Calbiga Samar hundred cascades in the 14Km in the immediate vicinity ground, resting stretch stream/river starting from such as camping site and place, rest Comparison with Lake Kalidongan to the Calbiga restrooms. rooms, available Pagsangjan Falls River. The largest and and most food nearby the panoramic is the Lulugayan Falls water fall. Facilities (-5) approximately fifty meters wide. Tour packages It is dubbed by visitors as a mini availability (-5) Niagara. Access (-3) Panoramic quality- (+3) Stamina Required (+2) Ulot River The only watershed in the country There are evidence of Resting area, Samar selected for the Model Forest illegal logging, slash and camping area Project. It is a habitat for 296 burn. and restrooms Comparison with species of plants, 134 species of Cagayan de Oro River amphibians, 18 species of reptiles and 28 species of terrestrial Facilities (-5) mammals. It has enchanting Tour guide quality (-3) forests, caves, rivers, falls and Access (-5) spring among others. (DOT, 2012) Panoramic quality (+2) Stamina Required (+5) Lobo Cave Crawlways, rivers, streams, Tourist need to be Good trail Samar waterfalls, mud chambers, and physically fit in visiting this condition, resting narrow descends. The stalactites cave. area, camping Comparison with and stalagmites are on its perfect area and Underground River form. restrooms

Facilities (-5) Tour packages availability (-5) Access (-5) Panoramic quality (+2) Stamina Required (+5) Bangon-Bugtong Falls One of the many waterfalls of Located 1.25 hr and the Better trail, City Calbayog City. Has a circular pond 45-minute walk requires camping site and about 30 meters in diameter, wide higher tourist stamina facility such as Comparison with enough for swimming and deep restroom Pagsangjan Falls enough for diving. The cascading water seems to come from streams Facilities (-3) flowing endlessly, resulting from Tour packages the pressure of its disgorge, which availability (-3) becomes even bigger in volume Access (-2) andnoticeable as the time of the Panoramic quality- (+3) day passes (Calbayog LGU). Stamina Required (+2) Blanca Aurora Falls Dubbed as the Pagsanjan Falls of The natural beauty has Wish the site the south. One of the first tourist deteriorated as the falls natural beauty Comparison with destinations in Samar. surrounding environment have been Pagsangjan Falls is populated. There is maintained. an unfinished building Facilities (-5) affecting the ambiance of Road is not yet Tour packages the place. fully paved. availability (-5) During rainy Access (-2) There is perceived days, access is Panoramic quality- presence of rebels in the difficult. (same) area Stamina Required (-1)

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Continuation of Table 1 Ecotourism destination Site Assessment (By tourists, guides, others) & comparison* with the more known sites in the Philippines Strength Weakness Wished present Pinipisakan Falls & Contains a series of star-like Tourist need to be Access road to Sulpan Cave waterfalls; good picnic site cool physically fit in visiting this a nearby place San Jorge Samar climate. Now a fully documented falls. The trail going to the to reduce time spot by a local travel and tour place is very rugged and of traveling and Comparison with office in the province, the site is very steep. The distance the stamina Pagsangjan Falls is considered the mother of all of the site is very far requirement. water towers in the town of San requiring an overnight stay Place to stay Facilities (-5) Jorge, for it being the open-start of in one of the overnight is Tour packages Samar’s longest river, the Blanca close to the site. essential, availability (-5) Aurora River. Its thundering and restrooms, better Access (-5) clear decant towards the Blanca There is a perceived trail, resting Panoramic quality (+3) Aurora river is a major element presence of rebels in the place. Stamina Required (+5) that constitutes the charm of this vicinity. rushing watercourse making the river an excellent venue for various aqua trysts(NUP, 2012)

to be finished. Blanca domestic visitors. Only 2.8% (5,199) of those tourists visited Samar wherein 8 of Aurora, for example, is one of the oldest every 10 are domestic tourist. Around 2% tourist destinations in the country but until of those tourists visiting Samar meet Joni today, the road from Downtown San Jorge Bonifacio, the proprietor of Trexplore the to Blanca Aurora has not been completed Adventure, a local tour package provider. . Blanca Aurora, San Jorge Samar is the Figure 2 are a number of tourist arrival take-off point to many tourism sites such by nationality over the last four years. as the Pinipisakan Falls, and Sulpan Like the regional foreign tourist profile, Cave. Germans top the list of Trexplore clients.

Ecotourism sites in its natural state are The number of local tourists has reduced preferred by purist nature lovers but fail in 2012 because there were increases of to attract volume of tourist. For the eco- groups providing tour-guiding activities. tourism sites to impact local economy, it is There were several government-led essential to increase the volume of visitors training and capability building activities but must see to it that control measure to to develop local guides. manage the sites must be put in-place. Foreign tourist gave importance to quality Figure 3 presents tourist share in percent of service available (Papanastaslon et.al., on various ecotourism sites in Samar. 2006) aside from the panoramic quality of Tours facilitated by Trexplore are directed the ecotourism sites. towards Lobo Cave and the Calbiga Caves. Trexplore conducts caving tours Private-led tourist arrival by nationality several times in a year attracting both local and foreign tourists. Trexplore The province has no existing tourist promotes his tours in various forms arrival monitoring program. Tourism data such as flyers, posters, blogs, Facebook is only available at the regional level while and Youtube videos. The extensive LGUs has no established protocols to promotional campaign, ready and record tourist arrivals. Based on NSCB complete tour packages, availability of 2011 report, Eastern Visayas tourist spelunking and safety gears with available arrival in 2010 reached 199,705, 92% are trained guides, tourist arrival increases.

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Figure 2: Tourist arrival by nationality (facilitated by Trexplore)

Figure 3: Most visited ecotourism site (tours facilitated by Trexplore)

Figure 4. Risk rating of eco-tourism sites by tourists

Marabut Rock Formation can be viewed if the beauty of the Pinipisakan Falls along South Samar coastal road. Thus, and Sulpan cave are incomparable, few private guides are not necessary. Blanca tourists prefer to go there because of the Aurora and Bangon-Bugtong Falls are effort and time needed to visit the place. quite accessible making tourist guides unnecessary. On the other hand, even The limited intervention or involvement

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of local government units where the sites gears and tour guide. The presence of all are located posed risk to the ecotourism of this leads to better accessibility of the sites. Maintaining the ecotourism sites tourism site to a wider type of visitors. are informally delegated to the private tour provider. This Tourists and guide perceived risk of visiting ecotourism sites in Samar Private tour providers often led to poor or no recording of tourism activities that Risk attributed to the location is some of are very important in managing tourism. the reasons of low tourist arrival. The risk Romita (2007) called this kind of practice is also one of the reasons why a tourist site as “undetected” tourism which leads to no matter how beautiful it is may not be several damages to the environment. opened or supported by the government The private-only or private-mostly tourism as an ecotourism destination. DENR activities and less to no government Administrative Order 2013-19 states that involvement limits the sites potential and the site must be free from the security increases the potential negative effects. risk and natural hazards that cannot These negative effects can be controlled be managed by a competent authority only if supported by government (DENR, 2013). Because many of the (Romita, 2007). It is essential that the sites in Samar are not yet fully developed, ecotourism area has a variety of sites various types of risk are present. Several to visit with value-added services which tourists were asked regarding the encourage foreign tourists to stay longer perceived risk before and after their visit. thus spending more (Papanastaslon, et.al., 2006). Government intervention/ The perception that Samar is still infested involvement is very essential in improving with rebels affects the number of tourist eco-tourism activities. arrival especially by foreign tourists. Health related risks, possibility of wild Tourists going to Sohoton Natural Park animal attacks like snakes as well as are facilitated by the LGU and do not geohazards are among the common allow another tour provider to visit the concerns of tourists. More than half of place without approval from the tourism the tourist destinations were feared to office of Basey Samar. In 2009, Sohoton be rebel-infested. However, after visiting tourist arrival reached 4052, 8.2% or 333 the place, their perception changed are foreigners while 91.8% are domestic significantly. “We could have reduced tourist, almost double compared to 2008 the rating to zero if we have not seen data (NSCB, 2010). Sohoton cave is a military patrolling the place,” says the most visited tourist destination in a group of tourist. Since most of the Region 8. Its share is about 78% of all sites are located inside forest reserves, Samar-bound tourists while about 2% malaria, dengue and other health related are facilitated by Trexplore. The rest are concerns attributed to such location are either non-ecotourism visitors or tours some concern of the tourists. The recent facilitated by other groups or freelance environment related disasters happening tour guides. The bulk share of tourist especially in the Philippines raised fears arrival visiting Sohoton Cave is attributed among tourists. About 70% of tourists to its good promotional campaign. With are worried about earthquakes especially much better tourism infrastructure such when they are inside the caves. Wildlife as the existence of tourism management related attacks especially by poisonous office with functioning staff coordinating a snakes’ worries a lot of tourists. community-based tourist support services such as a transportation facility, caving The risk rating can be reduced if the

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Table 2. Estimated Time of Travel Spent Excluding Time for Rest.

Remarks (travel time Travel time from nearest takeoff point accessible by from nearest Airport to public utility bus/van/jeepney/private car Ecotourism destination take-off point. * Takeoff point Boat Motorcycle Hike ** Calbayog Marabut Rock Formation *1.5 hrs Marabut - - - Sohoton Cave * 1 hr Basey 2 hr - - Calbiga Cave * 1 hr/**2 hrs Calbiga - 1 hr 2 hr Lulugayan Falls * 1 hr/**2 hrs Calbiga - 1 hr 15 min Pinisikpisakan Falls Blanca Aurora * 4 hrs/**1.5 hrs 3 hr - 4 hr and Sulpan Cave San Jorge Ulot River * 2 hrs/** 2 hrs Paranas 2 hr 1 hr 15 min Lobo Cave * 2 hrs/** 2 hrs Jiabong 30 min - 20 min Blanca Aurora Falls * 4hrs/**2hrs Blanca Aurora - - - Bangon Falls * 4hrs/**0 hrs Calbayog - 25 min 30 min support structure will be put in place. companies (ibid). However, ecotourism Infrastructure such as but not limited to benefits are limited as mismanagement or paved access roads, better trails, other no management, including rapid growth support infrastructures such as restrooms, and expansion could do more harm than resting place, information materials such good to delicate ecosystems.(Ibid). as tourist reminders/directions/guides, and flyers. A tourist in Samar would spend about PhP2000-3000/day (http://trexplore. Travel time from the nearest Access weebly.com). This amount includes point entrance fees, permits, traveling and guide expenses. Additional payment will The inadequate infrastructure and support be required to pay baggage assistants services limit the number of tourists’ and rental of gears needed. Based on arrival. The poor infrastructure leads into the CPF estimates, about PhP1,900.00 to longer time of travel, discouraging the PhP 2,850.00 goes to the local economy potential tourists because visiting these per tourist per day. If tourist arrival sites requires higher stamina. Table 2 is reaches the same level as Sohoton cave, the estimated travel time from the airport host town of ecotourism destination such to the site excluding resting time. as Calbiga, Jiabong, San Jorge Samar will earn about PhP 7.6M to PhP 11.4M Economic Revenue of Ecotourism per site. This income can be increased further if tourists stay longer because of The absence of tourism infrastructure to value-added services, variety of tourist record tourism activities makes it difficult to destination, and quality of sites. estimate revenue generated from tourism. In a study conducted by the Collaborative IV. CONCLUSIONS AND Partnership on Forests estimates that RECOMMENDATIONS ecotours can return as much as 95% to the local economy (CPF 2011). These are 1. Samar is gifted with a huge far better than the standard all-inclusive number of potential eco-tourism package tours” that deliver 20% of the destination. Samar has over 20 revenues to local companies the rest grand sized waterfalls; more than goes to airlines, hotels and large tour 100 caves and 1000 more to be

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