MUNICIPALITY-BASED TOURISM INITIATIVES IN THE PROVINCE OF ILOILO, PHILIPPINES: ASSESSMENT OF ATTRACTIVENESS, SUSTAINABILITY, AND ACCEPTABILITY

Author Name: Mr. Marjoe Karl T. Anacan

Volume/Issue: 01/12

Country: Philippines

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: http://www.doi-ds.org/doilink/05.2021-63797883/UIJIR

Affiliation:

1.  Faculty Member, Department of Hospitality Management, College of Commerce, University of San Agustin, Iloilo City, Philippines

ABSTRACT

The municipalities in the province of Iloilo, Philippines have wide diversification of tourism products and services which produce extensive benefits and influences to domestic and foreign tourists, as well as to the residents. The Municipal Tourism Officers implement regulatory function over tourism-oriented development plans, do research and assessment of tourism-related statistics, and facilitate promotional events. They have a vital role in the development of the tourism features, sustaining its resources for the benefit of the future generation, and making sure that it is acceptable to all tourism stakeholders. To assist the Provincial Tourism Office with its concerns, a descriptive-correlational method of research was utilized for this investigation to ascertain the attractiveness, sustainability, and acceptability of the municipality-based tourism initiatives. The study was conducted in August of 2018 among the tourism officers from five congressional districts of the province. They were selected through a simple random sampling and a two-part self-administered researcher-made questionnaire was validated as data- gathering instruments. The major findings revealed that tourism officers in the province of Iloilo assessed the municipality-based initiatives as attractive, sustainable, and acceptable. Positive and significant relationships existed between attractiveness and sustainability; attractiveness and acceptability; and sustainability and acceptability. There seems to be a consensus that being attractive and sustainable could result in acceptability.

Key words: Municipality-based tourism, Iloilo, attractiveness, sustainability, acceptability.