THE paradigm shift brought by climate change calls for a change of lifestyle, mental sets and learning pathways especially in the way people travel.
Small islands like Camiguin are considered as one of the world’s marine biodiversity hotspot and exposed at a greater risk due to tourism activities in the islands.
The protection of marine sanctuary in island communities such as Camiguin has reached a critical concern for both sustainability of tourism activities, cultural heritage and local economy.
Travel has changed the world. Buzz words in travel has now accelerated with new paradigm such as green travel, cultural travel, responsible tourism, fair travel, adventure travel, tribal tourism and ecotourism to name a few.
The Philippines, being a rich green haven for tropical habitat, has adopted ecotourism principles to regulate the destructive impact brought by tourism.
In the Joint DENR-DOT Memorandum Circular No. 98-02 on the Guidelines for Ecotourism Development in the Philippines, ecotourism is defined as low-impact, environmentally–sound and community participatory tourism activity in a given natural environment that enhances the conservation of bio-physical and cultural diversity, promotes environmental understanding and education, and yields socio-economic benefits to the concerned community.
Ecotourism is defined as a “purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the culture and natural history of the environment, taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem, while producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people” (McCormick, 1994).
Carlos Libosada, Ecotourism expert and book author noted: “Tourism is one of the major service-oriented industries in the Philippines. In 1997, tourism attracted a total of 2.2 million visitors generating a gross receipt of almost three billion dollars” (Libosada Jr. 1998). In his book Ecotourism in the Philippines, Libosada added “that the national tourism industry has been largely dependent on the natural resources for its continued growth and existence. In many cases, tourism development brings about positive and negative social and environmental impacts that change environmental features and socio-cultural fabrics of a destination.”
Furthermore, Libosada said that Ecotourism started in the Philippines as the international community became more aware of the environmental decay that has been happening to the world. Hector Ceballos Lascurain was considered one of the first persons to coin the word in the late 80’s. He termed ecotourism as: “tourism that consists in traveling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of studying, admiring, and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals found in the areas…” (Libosada, 1998).
In Camiguin, with the hope of raising awareness for environmental conservation and protection, a visionary former president of Camiguin Polytechnic State College (CPSC) Edgardo Canlas, PhD founded the Institute of Marine Biology in 1997 with the help of Mr. Apugan, Marine Biologist, (former CPSC Director of Marine Biology Department and Research and Development).
In the next years, CPSC opened a special program on Bachelor of Science in Ecotourism under Institute of Marine Biology with the primary objective of raising the awareness of the community in marine biodiversity conservation and protection. A revision of the curriculum was done in 2005 upgrading the program to Bachelor of Science in Ecotourism, the first school to offer such a developmental course in the country under the Institute of Arts and Science.
The present dynamic president of the college, Venus Irving-Lammawin, Ed.D, saw the potential of BS ecotourism program hence made it as the center for development with partnership with Camiguin Sschool of Arts and Trade (CSAT) under Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for NC2 accreditation for Tour guiding.
Camiguin known as the island born of fire has more volcanoes than its municipalities, which is a potential nature adventure destination. Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) declared Mt. Timpoong and Mt. Hibok-hibok mountains as protected areas with established trails for trekking to an active volcanic crater, lush mossy forest, volcanic rocks landscape, 360 degrees view at the peak overlooking Bohol and Mindanao islands.
Why CCRMP?
An interview with Evelyn Dequit, Team Leader, Management Service Consultant – Camiguin Coastal Resource Management Program (CCRMP) gave us a whole range of experience how a multi-stakeholder program in Camiguin Island started a new trend in developing Camiguin as ecotourism destination.
In the interview, Dequit explained that CCRMP started as part of the New Zealand Aid Programme Country Strategy for the Philippines (2003-2008) with the primary objective of supporting natural resource management activities that seek to redress environmental degradation and achieve sustainable livelihoods at the community level.
Dequit said that the development thrusts of the Province of Camiguin have been more focused on the protection of its natural environment as a springboard for economic development.
Mario C. Gasalatan, CCRMP Development Communication Specialist facilitated community trainings in partnership with schools and many organizations like the Enigmata artists for the training interpreters in interpretive centers.
Some of the showcased best practices in Camiguin ecotourism are spectacular diving, snorkeling in Mantigue Island Nature Park; White Island Marine Park; Sunken Cemetery - Pasil Reef Marine Protected Area and Magting Fish Sanctuary.
CCRMP ecotourism enterprise development project has also assisted projects in each of the municipality. In Mahinog, Taguines Lagoon Aqua Sports Recreational Facility managed by LGU Mahinog and the fisherfolks association that started during the Holy Week on April 2013 with paddle boat, kayak, Zorb ball, pedal boat.
Moreover, CCRMP established interpretive centers in 5 municipalities designed to educate people about nature and the environment. As an important process in awareness raising, an interactive center showcases user-friendly information as effective communication strategy that connects the visitors to the local culture and natural heritage with the use of creative and dynamic strategies.
An interactive volcano is one of the features of the Camiguin Interpretive Center at the Pavillion Tourism Center, Mambajao. CCRMP noted that the main purpose of creating this center is to achieve a deep understanding of the municipality’s natural resources that nurture life and provide the economic base for the promotion of tourism in the municipality and the province of Camiguin. This will also serve as a hub of information and learning resources for environmental, conservation and protection especially of the municipality’s upland and coastal ecosystem and marine resources.
Where do we go from here?
According to World Wildlife Fund “Tourism is the world’s largest industry. It accounts for more than 10 percent of total employment, 11 percent of global GDP, and total tourist trips are predicted to increase to 1.6 billion by 2020. As such, it has a major and increasing impact on both people and nature.
Tourism has brought mass destruction to this country. The alarming depletion and destruction of natural resources due to overdevelopment and human activity prompted the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to mitigate by having laws and guidelines in placed.
Tourism activities, which are the prime economic-generating activities, have a trade off. Taking this into consideration, the mass tourism practice has to look at seriously the losses in the name of profit.
A balance in the interplay of mass tourism and eco-tourism within the context of sustainable tourism needs serious attention.