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The Impacts of Coastal Tourism in Maribago, Lapulapu City
Thesis Abstract:
Identification of the beneficial and negative impacts of coastal tourism on the marine, socioeconomic, and institutional environments was the focus of the study concentrating on Barangay Maribago, where most of the beach resorts in Lapulapu City are located. Similar to other beaches, its corals had been destroyed by illegal fishing (e.g., dynamite fishing).
Providing protection to corals in their beach front (generally accepted as within their jurisdiction) from further destruction was one of the major impacts of the presence of resorts. Their operations discouraged illegal fishing, thus, providing the chance for corals to rejuvenate. To thrive and grow, the industry is dependent on a clean and healthy marine environment.
Scuba diving, a major water recreational activity, did not seem to cause significant physical damage to corals, which could be partly explained by strategies like the provision of mooring buoys by resorts, and right perception/attitude and high level of knowledge of the users (tourists, resort operators and employees) toward conserving marine resources. DO and BOD levels in the two sampling stations obtained before and after the peak tourist season were within the standards for the Class SA Water Classification for Tourism Zones and Marine Parks. The total coliform (TC) count, which before peak season was almost two times higher, had shot up to over 18 times than the standard of 70 MPN/100 ml immediately after the peak season. This finding was significant considering that tourism is identified as a “smokeless” industry.
In general, the community perceived tourism as economically beneficial but its presence could encourage some social ills such as prostitution and transmission of STDs. Financially, it seemed that only the resort operators and employees and “sarisari” store owners profited from the industry. Displacement of local tourists from the beach areas, which they used to frequent before, was a major negative social impact which confronts the present management as well as the future development of the industry.
Although specified in the Local Government Code that the city government is responsible, the management of the industry appeared to be inadequate even with the support of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the academe. The laxity in management provided an opportunity for the resorts to construct illegal structures on their foreshore and offshore areas. It appeared that there was a strong need for strengthening the capability of LGUs as well as the linkages among these institutions. Although the industry was considered as major source of revenue, the only clear contribution of tourism in the city was through the payment of annual real estate taxes.
In view of the city government’s plan to develop two additional tourism zones on the island, some of the major recommended strategies were (1) include a sustainable tourism plan in the City’s Master Plan, and (2) conduct EIA of the proposed reclamation projects.