NEOLIBERAL TOURISM: ANTI-PEOPLE, DESTRUCTIVE TO ENVIRONMENT
Today, September 27, the world celebrates World Tourism Day. Tourist destinations across Ilocos prepared different treats and come-ons for local and international tourists. Vigan City in Ilocos Sur leads the celebration in the province, and probably in the whole region being one of the world’s New Seven Wonder Cities. The place boasts of well-preserved Spanish houses and mouth-watering foods like empanada, bagnet, longganisa, and sinanglaw. Calle Crisologo, where most of the famed Spanish houses are located is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vigan, a small city with limited resources found its niche in the tourism world by banking on its rich cultural heritage. Policies and facilities reflect its inclination to keep this sector afloat and running to boost its economy.
Looking at the industry in a wider-scale, tourism came early as a must commodity for industrialized countries. But it was only during the 80’s that the industry got a stable foothold in developing economies like the Philippines. From this period on, the government has been on its heels pursuing the much-touted economic growth from the travel and tourism sector.
Targeting the “new middle class” and international travellers, leaders and policy makers sought to provide avenues and attractions to boost tourist spending and job generation. According to the World Tourism Organization, international tourist arrivals grew by 4.4% in 2015, generating US$ 1.52 Trillion in earnings. Thus, it is not surprising that tourism is among the highlighted tools under the Sustainable Development Goals.
However, the question remains whether tourism, especially under the neoliberal framework can bring about the economic boost and above all, be environmentally friendly. Note that neoliberalism, in its truest sense aims to increase profits by removing market borders and regulations have always prove destructive for ecology. Commodification of nature and its conservation magnifies economic woes – heavily afflicting those in the bottom of the socio-economic strata.
Neoliberal Tourism Framework in the Philippines
Tourism (medical, travel and retirement) is among the top priorities during the US-Aquino regime, and the post EDSA Uprising administrations before him to bolster the Philippine economy. It is one of the “seven big winners” sectors, listed and discussed at length in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce presented this development framework in paper titled “Arangkada Philippines”. The plan aims to generate $75 billion in new foreign investments, 10 million jobs, and over P1 trillion in government revenue within a decade.
In line with this, the Department of Tourism (DOT) crafted the National Tourism Plan in June 2013 outlining strategies and measures to attain the 10 million tourist goal by the end of 2016 set by the Aquino administration during its July 2012 State of the Nation Address. In 2013, tourism in the region almost reach one million, a big part of it were domestic tourist. In Ilocos Norte alone, an estimated 1.6 million tourist came in 2015. The regional leadership of the DOT recommended nine priority tourism products that include nature, culture, and education among others. These themes aim to “enrich tourist experience and boost product diversification”.
Local governments in the region relying on tourism pushed their creativity to the limits by orchestrating different festivities and cultural expositions. Almost all provinces and towns designed their own celebrations such as the Longganisa Festival of Vigan City, Tabako Festival of Tubao, La Union, and Candon City, and the Kannawidan and Pamulinawen Festivals of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte respectively.
Standing out among these showcases is the declaration of Vigan City as one of the New Seven Wonder Cities of the World in December 2014. Local officials projected steep increase in the sector, some as high as 300 percent growth in the next few years because of this recognition. As expected, scores of tourist – foreign and local flocked the city before the year ended to get a glimpse and take selfies and groupies of the wonders that Vigan holds.
However, the much touted “It’s more fun in the Philippines” failed to concretized the grandiose projection of the government. In 2014, there were only 4.8 million tourist arrivals forcing the DOT to admit the futility of the 10 million target and scaling it to 5.5 million for 2015 or a 15 percent growth differential. In ten months, the industry has already registered 11.13 percent surge from last year. While this seems promising, the figures clearly show the unrealistic estimates and erroneous priority of this administration (and the regimes before him as well). Along with this failure are untold problems and trade-offs.
Environmental Impacts
The United Nations Environmental Programme identified three primary environmental impacts of tourism – natural resources depletion, pollution, and sewage, and other physical impacts. Other notable impacts are the commercialization of culture, the steep rise of prices for goods and services, and traffic congestion. These problems may become disastrous when facilities and policies fail to cope up with tourist influx and receipts and benefits from sector fail to trickle down to the communities.
Increase in tourist arrivals also means increase in waste generated. However, the Ilocos region has a very limited waste disposal capacity and facilities. As of December 2014, the National Solid Waste Management Commission recorded an average of 1770 tons of garbage generated every day in Region I accommodated by 111 waste disposal sites and facilities, only 20 categorized as sanitary landfills.
Out of the 72 municipalities of the three Ilocos provinces (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur & La Union), only 14 municipalities, and two cities have sanitary landfills. The problem is cities like Vigan and Laoag and municipalities like Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte and San Juan in La Union that receive and accommodate a large number of tourist are not included in the list. While recognized by the Department of Interior and Local Government for its solid waste management program, Vigan City’s waste disposal facility is not strategically appropriate to provide the service to accommodate the influx of tourist. Just recently, Caritas Nueva Segovia exposed that a private hospital in Metro Vigan in partnership with the barangay captain was disposing their garbage along the banks of the Abra River in Paing, Bantay.
Another problem is the increasing volume of sewage generated as lodging homes, hotels, restaurants and fast foods are constructed. Philippine laws on wastewater management require systems and facilities to treat wastewater before directed to streams, rivers or to the sea. However, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) accounts that only 10% of wastewater is treated, resulting to 58% of our groundwater being contaminated. The Bureau also noted that untreated domestic wastewater or sewage accounts for 48% of this contamination.
In Ilocos, key tourist destinations and hotel build-up areas has no such facility, thus they discharge domestic and commercial wastewater without treatment. No wonder that EMB Region I reported that most of the rivers and streams in the region contain high level of fecal coliforms. A few years ago, reports of alarming level of E. coli (Escherichia coli) in the beaches of Pagudpud where resorts and lodging houses mushroomed graced the local headlines.
TDAs: Threat to Environment and Livelihood
Under the June 2013 National Tourism Plan, the Aquino administration instituted Tourism Development Areas. The TDAs were lumped into 20 tourism clusters to accelerate their development as centers designed to cater tourism themes mentioned earlier, mostly found in protected areas. Two sites in the Northern Philippines Cluster (NP) are in Ilocos. They are among the sites named in the plan that are located in historical and environmental critical areas – the Laoag-Pagudpud (NP-2A) and Vigan Tourism (NP-2B) clusters.
The Vigan Cluster as its label implies includes Vigan City, the second oldest city established by Spanish conquistadors. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its well-preserved Spanish houses lined along Calle Crisologo. This was among the key factors that propelled the city to be one of the Seven Wonder Cities in 2014. While the Laoag-Pagudpud Cluster includes the Kalbario-Patapat Natural Park, a critical biodiversity area. Projects envisioned to accommodate the increased foreign and local tourist creates “stresses” to these areas.
An example of these projects is the plan of the Municipality of Caoayan to dredge the Mestizo River. Caoayan, a costal municipality South of Vigan sits on the mouth of the Abra River. The dredging project intends to rehabilitate the river and ease flooding. Attached with it is the establishment of a tourism center and a floating restaurant. Dredging alone is an environmentally critical project that requires intensive study to ensure the mitigating measures are in place. While the construction of a tourism center and restaurant is economically viable, it will defeat the purpose of rehabilitating the water body. It will also affect the small fisherfolks that are dependent on fish cages and other catches in the river.
In Pagudpud, the Mairaira Cove where the famous Blue Lagoon is located is now losing its pristine landscape. A grand tourism project, to be develop by the famed Sands Resorts will also rise in the Pasaleng Bay. Resorts and related establishments built near the creeks and on the foreshore areas disrupt natural sediment cycle. These structures and human activities also affect natural nesting and spawning sites. Experts are concerned that the small cove is nearing its carrying capacity and current pollution levels from tourist activities and establishments may further aggravate its degradation. Coral bleaching and poaching of naturally growing bonsai on exposed reefs in the area are also widespread – an undeniable impact of surge of tourist and tourist facilities in the area.
Commodifying Nature, Undermining Conservation
Ecotourism, a phrase coined to make tourism more acceptable in environmentally critical areas is by far the best effort of to worsen the sorry state of ecological conservation. Neoliberal framework put price on finite and priceless resources to accommodate tourist demands for interesting sites; and for fun, pleasures, and recreation.
The Philippine Area Management Board (PAMB) sets its sight on developing the 15 protected areas in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan to boost ecotourism. Under the public-private partnership scheme, tourism concessionaires and corporations are given upper hand in the management and utilization of these areas. The take-over of private entities of people’s resources is masked by the passage of Republic Act 10629, signed by Aquino III in 2013, with the promise of providing at least 75 percent of the income generated by protected areas by the PAMB to the stakeholders to develop and sustain ecotourism potentials.
Carbon-trade agreements between local governments and corporations puts the burden of reducing carbon emission to local communities. Declared key biodiversity sites now reserved for ecotourism and research displaces indigenous people from their natural source of livelihood – foraging, hunting and gathering of forest products. Protected areas are kept from people’s access and utilization while foreign investors are allowed to plan for their exploitation. Best examples are found in identified “conservation areas” in Adams, Ilocos Norte and municipalities along the boundaries of Ilocos and the Cordillera.
The “Blue Economy” design promoted by capitalist countries and hailed during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meet is likewise creating more threat especially to our fresh and marine resources. Blue economy aims to commercialize water resources and fish production – a badge for corporations’ to plunder our resources.
In 2014, there are only 14 municipalities and three cities in that region that have Integrated Coastal Management Plan (ICMP). La Union have the most number of ICMPs, seven municipalities and one city while Ilocos Sur has the least with only two municipalities and one city. However, a review of these plans indicates intention to providing more space for commercial and business establishments in line with their ecotourism programs. No wonder despite having the most number of ICMs, La Union has the least number of marine sanctuaries and the most number of new beach resorts constructed along its coast. Structures in the beaches disrupt not only the flora and fauna in the area, but also upset the natural sand supply and movement thereby accelerating erosion.
Neoliberal-Directed Plunder Continues
No end is in sight for these predicaments. To the delight of foreign investors and local compradors, the Duterte administration has shown no inclination of deviating from neoliberal economic design. The current head of the agency tasked to oversee the protection of the environment is an advocate of ecotourism and related investments. These means that in all levels, the government’s tourism program will continue to focus on utilizing misplaced priorities – nature and conservation for revenue, and increasing tourist arrivals, and not with resolving the root cause of poverty and environmental destruction.
Tourism under the current economic system is nothing but a call for the commercialization of every unique aspect of our culture and nature. “More Fun in the Philippines” is a pretext for big businesses for an all-out exploitation and plunder of our environment. ###
Looking at the industry in a wider-scale, tourism came early as a must commodity for industrialized countries. But it was only during the 80’s that the industry got a stable foothold in developing economies like the Philippines. From this period on, the government has been on its heels pursuing the much-touted economic growth from the travel and tourism sector.
Targeting the “new middle class” and international travellers, leaders and policy makers sought to provide avenues and attractions to boost tourist spending and job generation. According to the World Tourism Organization, international tourist arrivals grew by 4.4% in 2015, generating US$ 1.52 Trillion in earnings. Thus, it is not surprising that tourism is among the highlighted tools under the Sustainable Development Goals.
However, the question remains whether tourism, especially under the neoliberal framework can bring about the economic boost and above all, be environmentally friendly. Note that neoliberalism, in its truest sense aims to increase profits by removing market borders and regulations have always prove destructive for ecology. Commodification of nature and its conservation magnifies economic woes – heavily afflicting those in the bottom of the socio-economic strata.
Neoliberal Tourism Framework in the Philippines
Tourism (medical, travel and retirement) is among the top priorities during the US-Aquino regime, and the post EDSA Uprising administrations before him to bolster the Philippine economy. It is one of the “seven big winners” sectors, listed and discussed at length in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce presented this development framework in paper titled “Arangkada Philippines”. The plan aims to generate $75 billion in new foreign investments, 10 million jobs, and over P1 trillion in government revenue within a decade.
In line with this, the Department of Tourism (DOT) crafted the National Tourism Plan in June 2013 outlining strategies and measures to attain the 10 million tourist goal by the end of 2016 set by the Aquino administration during its July 2012 State of the Nation Address. In 2013, tourism in the region almost reach one million, a big part of it were domestic tourist. In Ilocos Norte alone, an estimated 1.6 million tourist came in 2015. The regional leadership of the DOT recommended nine priority tourism products that include nature, culture, and education among others. These themes aim to “enrich tourist experience and boost product diversification”.
Local governments in the region relying on tourism pushed their creativity to the limits by orchestrating different festivities and cultural expositions. Almost all provinces and towns designed their own celebrations such as the Longganisa Festival of Vigan City, Tabako Festival of Tubao, La Union, and Candon City, and the Kannawidan and Pamulinawen Festivals of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte respectively.
Standing out among these showcases is the declaration of Vigan City as one of the New Seven Wonder Cities of the World in December 2014. Local officials projected steep increase in the sector, some as high as 300 percent growth in the next few years because of this recognition. As expected, scores of tourist – foreign and local flocked the city before the year ended to get a glimpse and take selfies and groupies of the wonders that Vigan holds.
However, the much touted “It’s more fun in the Philippines” failed to concretized the grandiose projection of the government. In 2014, there were only 4.8 million tourist arrivals forcing the DOT to admit the futility of the 10 million target and scaling it to 5.5 million for 2015 or a 15 percent growth differential. In ten months, the industry has already registered 11.13 percent surge from last year. While this seems promising, the figures clearly show the unrealistic estimates and erroneous priority of this administration (and the regimes before him as well). Along with this failure are untold problems and trade-offs.
Environmental Impacts
The United Nations Environmental Programme identified three primary environmental impacts of tourism – natural resources depletion, pollution, and sewage, and other physical impacts. Other notable impacts are the commercialization of culture, the steep rise of prices for goods and services, and traffic congestion. These problems may become disastrous when facilities and policies fail to cope up with tourist influx and receipts and benefits from sector fail to trickle down to the communities.
Increase in tourist arrivals also means increase in waste generated. However, the Ilocos region has a very limited waste disposal capacity and facilities. As of December 2014, the National Solid Waste Management Commission recorded an average of 1770 tons of garbage generated every day in Region I accommodated by 111 waste disposal sites and facilities, only 20 categorized as sanitary landfills.
Out of the 72 municipalities of the three Ilocos provinces (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur & La Union), only 14 municipalities, and two cities have sanitary landfills. The problem is cities like Vigan and Laoag and municipalities like Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte and San Juan in La Union that receive and accommodate a large number of tourist are not included in the list. While recognized by the Department of Interior and Local Government for its solid waste management program, Vigan City’s waste disposal facility is not strategically appropriate to provide the service to accommodate the influx of tourist. Just recently, Caritas Nueva Segovia exposed that a private hospital in Metro Vigan in partnership with the barangay captain was disposing their garbage along the banks of the Abra River in Paing, Bantay.
Another problem is the increasing volume of sewage generated as lodging homes, hotels, restaurants and fast foods are constructed. Philippine laws on wastewater management require systems and facilities to treat wastewater before directed to streams, rivers or to the sea. However, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) accounts that only 10% of wastewater is treated, resulting to 58% of our groundwater being contaminated. The Bureau also noted that untreated domestic wastewater or sewage accounts for 48% of this contamination.
In Ilocos, key tourist destinations and hotel build-up areas has no such facility, thus they discharge domestic and commercial wastewater without treatment. No wonder that EMB Region I reported that most of the rivers and streams in the region contain high level of fecal coliforms. A few years ago, reports of alarming level of E. coli (Escherichia coli) in the beaches of Pagudpud where resorts and lodging houses mushroomed graced the local headlines.
TDAs: Threat to Environment and Livelihood
Under the June 2013 National Tourism Plan, the Aquino administration instituted Tourism Development Areas. The TDAs were lumped into 20 tourism clusters to accelerate their development as centers designed to cater tourism themes mentioned earlier, mostly found in protected areas. Two sites in the Northern Philippines Cluster (NP) are in Ilocos. They are among the sites named in the plan that are located in historical and environmental critical areas – the Laoag-Pagudpud (NP-2A) and Vigan Tourism (NP-2B) clusters.
The Vigan Cluster as its label implies includes Vigan City, the second oldest city established by Spanish conquistadors. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its well-preserved Spanish houses lined along Calle Crisologo. This was among the key factors that propelled the city to be one of the Seven Wonder Cities in 2014. While the Laoag-Pagudpud Cluster includes the Kalbario-Patapat Natural Park, a critical biodiversity area. Projects envisioned to accommodate the increased foreign and local tourist creates “stresses” to these areas.
An example of these projects is the plan of the Municipality of Caoayan to dredge the Mestizo River. Caoayan, a costal municipality South of Vigan sits on the mouth of the Abra River. The dredging project intends to rehabilitate the river and ease flooding. Attached with it is the establishment of a tourism center and a floating restaurant. Dredging alone is an environmentally critical project that requires intensive study to ensure the mitigating measures are in place. While the construction of a tourism center and restaurant is economically viable, it will defeat the purpose of rehabilitating the water body. It will also affect the small fisherfolks that are dependent on fish cages and other catches in the river.
In Pagudpud, the Mairaira Cove where the famous Blue Lagoon is located is now losing its pristine landscape. A grand tourism project, to be develop by the famed Sands Resorts will also rise in the Pasaleng Bay. Resorts and related establishments built near the creeks and on the foreshore areas disrupt natural sediment cycle. These structures and human activities also affect natural nesting and spawning sites. Experts are concerned that the small cove is nearing its carrying capacity and current pollution levels from tourist activities and establishments may further aggravate its degradation. Coral bleaching and poaching of naturally growing bonsai on exposed reefs in the area are also widespread – an undeniable impact of surge of tourist and tourist facilities in the area.
Commodifying Nature, Undermining Conservation
Ecotourism, a phrase coined to make tourism more acceptable in environmentally critical areas is by far the best effort of to worsen the sorry state of ecological conservation. Neoliberal framework put price on finite and priceless resources to accommodate tourist demands for interesting sites; and for fun, pleasures, and recreation.
The Philippine Area Management Board (PAMB) sets its sight on developing the 15 protected areas in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan to boost ecotourism. Under the public-private partnership scheme, tourism concessionaires and corporations are given upper hand in the management and utilization of these areas. The take-over of private entities of people’s resources is masked by the passage of Republic Act 10629, signed by Aquino III in 2013, with the promise of providing at least 75 percent of the income generated by protected areas by the PAMB to the stakeholders to develop and sustain ecotourism potentials.
Carbon-trade agreements between local governments and corporations puts the burden of reducing carbon emission to local communities. Declared key biodiversity sites now reserved for ecotourism and research displaces indigenous people from their natural source of livelihood – foraging, hunting and gathering of forest products. Protected areas are kept from people’s access and utilization while foreign investors are allowed to plan for their exploitation. Best examples are found in identified “conservation areas” in Adams, Ilocos Norte and municipalities along the boundaries of Ilocos and the Cordillera.
The “Blue Economy” design promoted by capitalist countries and hailed during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meet is likewise creating more threat especially to our fresh and marine resources. Blue economy aims to commercialize water resources and fish production – a badge for corporations’ to plunder our resources.
In 2014, there are only 14 municipalities and three cities in that region that have Integrated Coastal Management Plan (ICMP). La Union have the most number of ICMPs, seven municipalities and one city while Ilocos Sur has the least with only two municipalities and one city. However, a review of these plans indicates intention to providing more space for commercial and business establishments in line with their ecotourism programs. No wonder despite having the most number of ICMs, La Union has the least number of marine sanctuaries and the most number of new beach resorts constructed along its coast. Structures in the beaches disrupt not only the flora and fauna in the area, but also upset the natural sand supply and movement thereby accelerating erosion.
Neoliberal-Directed Plunder Continues
No end is in sight for these predicaments. To the delight of foreign investors and local compradors, the Duterte administration has shown no inclination of deviating from neoliberal economic design. The current head of the agency tasked to oversee the protection of the environment is an advocate of ecotourism and related investments. These means that in all levels, the government’s tourism program will continue to focus on utilizing misplaced priorities – nature and conservation for revenue, and increasing tourist arrivals, and not with resolving the root cause of poverty and environmental destruction.
Tourism under the current economic system is nothing but a call for the commercialization of every unique aspect of our culture and nature. “More Fun in the Philippines” is a pretext for big businesses for an all-out exploitation and plunder of our environment. ###
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