photo by Zean Villongco
The Philippines is one of those countries that gets a lot of free publicity. The beautiful landscapes and beaches have been featured on many shows and have ranked continuously on the top of various beach and travel destination lists. But over the years, heavy tourism has started to affect the natural areas and pollution and trash have started to take over highly trafficked areas. This is why the Department of Tourism in the Philippines has decided to revive its well-known “More Fun” slogan ” but with a new focus on ecotourism with the aim of preserving the natural areas for future generations to come. So how will that affect you as a tourist and how can you do your part to keep the Philippines green and blue for future generations? Read on below to find out.
photo by Jeff Tollefson via Flickr
Closures and Efforts
Last year one of the Philippines’ most highly trafficked tourism areas, Boracay Island, was shut down for six months for rehabilitation in order to help heal the land and water from all of the tourism damage . Before the closure, the water reported high levels of sewage and local businesses were in violation of disposing of trash improperly and depleting resources in hopes of keeping up with the tourism. The overall general development of new businesses being built also had a negative effect on the island.
Boracay Island has since reopened but rehabilitation is still in full-effect. The government has taken a keen interest in keeping the Philippines beautiful and is continuing to enforce stricter rules for tourism businesses that will guarantee the sea staying blue and the forests green for future generations.
Like Boracay Island, El Nido, one of Palawan’s most visited municipalities, is in need of rehabilitation. Once known to be a posh place, the tide has since changed as more backpackers and budget travelers are traipsing through the once expensive travel destination. And with the lack of a slow travel season, the land doesn’t have time to heal from all of the exposure. A few ways that the government is healing El Nido is by shutting down beaches where the water is not safe for swimming due to pollution as well as implementing capacity caps. For instance, there are limits to how many boats, kayaks and sporting equipment can be on the water at any given time. Party boats along with the playing of loud music, cliff jumping and grilling are now prohibited in Bacuit bay. The most popular travel destinations, the Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon have been issued a capacity number and pre-registration is required to visit either of them.
photo by reibai via Flickr
How Uncharted Philippines is Different
Unlike many large travel corporations that pack 50 people into a travel coach, Uncharted Philippines is different. Focusing on small intimate groups of about 3 to 7, these tours focus on low impact, local and authentic travel . With Uncharted, the goal is to blend in and be a local. Eating the local food at a mom and pop B&B, sleeping in a hammock and enjoying a cold shower (a small price to pay for unforgettable views), is how Uncharted Philippines rolls.
Keeping tours small lessens the impact on the land and keeping it local means that big businesses will no longer have a need to keep moving in and developing new land and buildings which will worsen the overdevelopment problem. Besides, when you’re living like a local, you’ll enjoy a treasure trove of activities that many other travelers will never experience like visiting a wedding where the whole village is invited or trying your hand at a local craft or cooking a regional dish in the home of a host. No canned experiences here. That’s how Uncharted Philippines keeps travel sustainable… Preserving it for generations to come by being mindful of the impact on the land and people that made it beautiful in the first place.
Travelling Responsibly No Matter Where You Go
Sustainable travel is a catch phrase which essentially means finding a way to travel and enjoy a place with the goal of maintaining the area(s) long-term without harming or killing the natural environment. The goal of sustainable travel is to minimize the impact of visitors by promoting ways individuals can enjoy an area that is beneficial to its conservation.
The best way you can travel sustainably is by doing as the locals do. Eat local cuisine, use local transport, sleep in local bed and breakfasts and support local businesses. This is how areas stay pristine, clean and preserved for generations to come. To find out more about sustainable travel and how you can become more mindful when travelling the world, reach out to the Uncharted Philippines team today .