An assessment of the nature-based beach tourism site and its ecotourists in Sabang beach, Baler, Aurora

• Main Authors: An, Reena, Lu, Harlene, Thai, Justine Erika
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2012
• Subjects: Tourism > Social aspects > Philippines > Baler, Aurora; Business Administration, Management, and Operations
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/11026
• Institution: De La Salle University

In the last few decades, Ecotourism continued to experience growth, as different sectors desire for more sustainable developments and as economic situations in developing countries demand new opportunities for growth. The Philippines, composed of 7, 107 islands, has many natural and cultural destinations that can pursue Ecotourism. Sabang Beach, Baler, Aurora is one of the many rich nature-based ecotourism sites that is currently pursuing Ecotourism. This thesis attempts to analyze the current status of ecotourism in Sabang Beach, whether it truly embodied the principles of sustainability and environmental sensitivity. To address this research need, an evaluative research design was used to assess (1) the eco-tourists classification in Sabang Beach (2) and its current status on the ecotourism standards and guidelines. Relevant literature on the topics of ecotourism as well as its classification and guidelines were examined to develop a framework to assess ecotourism in the area. Data was collected using qualitative methods, which included interviews, observation and survey questionnaire. The research revealed that the respondents fall under the deep, active and hard classification of ecotourism. On the other hand, through the interviews and observation based on the ecotourism standards and guidelines, the research revealed that Sabang Beach is still in the planning stage.