Author: MICHELLE VAN M. EUSEBIO

Issue: 2021-2022

Abstract:

Tourism is one among the most dynamic and vibrant section on the planet. Management of sustainable tourism must guarantee that travelers’ needs are addressed, users have lasting memories, they are conscious of environmental concerns, and sustainable techniques are shared among individuals. This study assessed sustainable tourism management practices and provided critical perspectives and analysis using a descriptive survey design with 400 respondents from the fifty (50) resorts and hotels in the Province of Zambales. Findings show that in terms of economic, environmental and socio-cultural impacts, all hotels and resorts are implementing sound sustainable tourism management practices. Results also revealed that challenges encountered are of the same level of agreement in all hotels and resorts. A greater majority have big concerns in implementing their sustainability programs that provide long term solutions to economic, environmental and socio-cultural impacts of tourism. Accordingly, they are undertaking appropriate measures to ensure that their management is responsive to economic, environmental and socio-cultural impacts of tourism. The respondents learned that it is important to understand how they can help in the conservation of the environment, how sustainable tourism improves the image of the hotel, employee retention is important, and profitability is a priority. COVID-19 pandemic impacted poor preparation with disastrous consequences and the resorts and hotels need adequate cash flow especially in the preservation of natural resources. The researcher provided the following recommendations: Hotels and resorts must be provided technical assistance in measuring the impacts of their sustainable management practices; the government should provide provisions and assistance to cope with the aftermath of the pandemic; access to communication and inter-sector coordination which were identified as major challenges should be addressed by interfacing with the concerned authorities; and sharing of best practices and lessons learned in order to sustain the best programs to provide long term solutions to economic, environmental and socio-cultural impacts of tourism.

Keywords: Sustainable Tourism, Socio-cultural, Environmental and Economic Practices, Challenges, Zambales, Philippines