The Philippines has adopted eco-tourism as an important aspect of their economic development plan. Palawan, the second largest province in the Philippines (in land area), has become the prime eco-tourism destination of the county and the new “buzz” among the green travel community. Tourism not only helps to raise the standard of living for the remote island’s scarce population, but also reinforces programs that protect the environment. In response, tourists walk away with a memorable vacation, as well as the satisfaction that they are contributing to making the Earth a greener place to live.

Packaging tourism that is a spin-off from the traditional definitions, Bohol’s eco-tourism has made it a model for the country. It is home to the tarsier, the world’s smallest monkey, and to an enigmatic geological formation, the Chocolate Hills. Its coral reefs are home to enchanting varieties of marine life. Wetlands, caves and forests dot its terrain, while mangroves and palms grow abundantly in its coasts and swamps.

The ecotourism program has clear aims: to put in place mechanisms that are environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially equitable; accelerate development for the benefit of local communities; and spread tourism benefits to rural areas in terms of employment generation and improve the standard of living.

WHERE TO STAY
Following is a list of hotels and resorts throughout the Philippines which offer eco-conscious vacationers the opportunity to explore the marvels of the region while doing their part in respecting and restoring Mother Nature.

El Nido Resorts, Palawan
Lagen and Miniloc Island Resorts of El Nido Resorts believe in recognizing natural resources through responsible tourism. The resorts also work closely with the local community in the prevention of illegal fishing, promotion of coastal clean-ups, environmental education campaigns, monitoring of snorkeling sites and dive sites, and installation and maintenance of mooring buoys.

Club Noah Isabelle, Apulit Island, Palawan
Club Noah Isabelle is located on the island of Apulit on the northeastern coast of Palawan. Situated in a cove surrounded by a large marine reef, Club Noah Isabelle has been designed to be a model-case for eco-tourism. With administrative authority over a one mile radius of the island, Club Noah has slowly brought the reefs of Isabelle back to life. The presence of the white breasted eagle, grey reef egrets, and kingfisher attest to the abundance of fish in the water.

Bohol Bee Farm
The Bohol Bee Farm is a secret cherished and kept by visitors. Hidden, safe, and unexploited, it is a sanctuary where one can escape from the complexities and trappings of modern life. The farm has evolved into a popular tropical retreat, encouraging agricultural development through organic farming and introducing an alternative and sustainable lifestyle in harmony with nature. Almost everything at the resort – from the food to the furniture – is made on premises.

The Philippines is what those “I-can’t-wait-to-tell-you” vacation experiences are all about. Offering a great diversity of appeals, the 7,107 island archipelago boasts some of the most extensive eco-tourism offerings of any destination.

ECO-FRIENDLY PURSUITS
Following is a list of various activities for vacationers throughout the region:

WHALE SHARKS
One of the big reasons for heading to the peaceful village of Donsol in Southwest Luzon, is an opportunity to rendezvous with whale sharks measuring from 18 to 35 feet in length and weighing some 20 tons. Locally known as “butanding,” whale sharks are considered to be the largest fish in the world’s seas. Part of the beauty of this adventure is the opportunity to interact with the creatures in their natural environment instead of man-made captive areas. The best time for divers or snorkelers to swim alongside these gentle creatures (or to watch them from small boats) is from November to May.

BIRD WATCHING
If bird-watching is on the vacation agenda, the national bird of the Philippines, the Philippine Eagle, will surely impress (as will the rest of the country’s unique bird life). The rare Philippine Eagle is said to be the world’s largest, and those lucky enough to venture to the Philippines for a first-hand encounter will remember it as one of the most breathtaking experiences of their lives.

MOUSE DEER
When it comes to thinking “small,” the Philippines offers special interest as well. The smallest hoofed mammal on the face of the earth – the mouse deer (locally known as Pilandok) – can be seen on Balabac Island, south of Palawan, standing a mere 15.7 inches at shoulder level.

TARSIER
The scenic and lush oval island of Bohol is the comfortable residence of the Philippine tarsier – the smallest primate in the world. Aside from fitting in the palm of one’s hand, the Philippines tarsier is also the oldest surviving member of the primate group at an awesome 45 million years old. An endangered species, the tarsier can be found in several areas within the Philippines, but the most common encounters are on the island of Bohol.

PISIDUM
Beneath the surface of the warm and inviting waters of the Philippines one can find Pisidum, the world’s tiniest shell, less than a millimeter in length (the country is a seashell lover’s delight with some 12,000 species), and the world’s shortest freshwater fish – the colorless and nearly transparent dwarf pygmy goby (males have an average length of only .3 inches).

ARCIHIPELAGO
Vacationers who come to the Philippines will also discover that the archipelago is home to 488 of the 500 known coral species in the world including seahorses, five distinct species of marine turtles (the Green Turtle, Hawksbill, Leatherback, Olive Ridley, and Loggerhead), and seven of the world’s eight known species of giant clams.

CHOCOLATE HILLS
Aside from the tarsier, Bohol boasts a wide range of enticing tourist attractions including the dome-shaped Chocolate Hills – 1,268 hills rising 98-394 feet above the surrounding plateau, reaching as far as the eyes can see. The uniformly-shaped hills dry to a crispy brown in March resembling miles of oversized Hershey Kisses.

TAAL VOLCANO
Vacationers will not want to miss the chance to see the picture-postcard island of Taal, known to have the world’s smallest active volcano. Taal Volcano is an island on a lake about 30 miles south of Manila. Most notably, the volcano contains a lake of its own within its center known as Crater Lake. What makes this volcano even more novel is the tiny island inside Crater Lake – Vulcan Point – which is an island within a lake on an island within a lake on an island.

CAMIGUIN ISLAND
Camiguin Island, a volcanic island in the Bohol Sea, where waterfalls create both hot and cold springs, is often referred to as the Philippines’ Garden of Eden.

SUBIC BAY
Subic Bay, located two hours northwest of Manila, offers rich wildlife with distinctive species of birds, bats, monkeys and butterflies. Journey through the Subic Forest Watershed Reserves where the local monkeys are known to be extremely friendly in their interactions with visitors. At Jungle Environment Survival Training Camp, natives offer instruction on how to drink from a water vine, make fire out of bamboo shavings and twigs, cook in a bamboo steamer, and eat on a bamboo plate under a century-old tree.

MOUNT PINATUBO
Mount Pinatubo, also in Luzon, is notable in history as the second largest volcanic eruption in the 20th century, back in 1991. Spa facilities make use of hot springs and volcanic ash for their treatments, which results in a very soothing, mineral-rich experience.

PUERTO PRINCESA SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK
Palawan’s Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is the longest in the world. Visitors can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s cavernous interior and various rock formations via outrigger boats through the underground river. Although only one third of the river’s length of more than five miles is navigable, it emerges into a crystal-clear lagoon, where visitors can continue their exploration of the park by leisurely hiking the Monkey Trail lined with 40,000 tropical flora and fauna.

IFUGAO RICE TERRACES
The Ifugao Rice Terraces in Banaue, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an agro-architectural marvel. Travelers will be in awe of the extensive natural irrigation system the indigenous Ifugao rice farmers were able to accomplish by hand more than 2,000 years ago.

Gentle Blue Whale Shark

A tourist-oriented realty firm based here is developing a beachfront property in Donsol, Sorsogon where a world-class resort hotel would rise to boost the tourism industry in the area known as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World”.

Misibis Lands Inc. (MLI), the would be developer is now arranging the acquisition of the property and financing for the project that would cost some P500 million to be sourced largely from internal capitalization and bank loans, its chairman of the board and chief executive officer Elizalde Co said Thursday.

MLI, a prominent property developer that is among the Sunwest Group of Companies (SGC) based here and owned by the Co family is also owner of Hotel Venezia, a luxurious boutique hotel that lies within Renaissance Garden, a posh residential property at the heart of this city.

It is also the developer of Discovery Bay Misibis (DBM) and Misibis Residential Estate and Spa (MRES) within a 40-hectare island property in Cagraray Island of Bacacay, Albay, both world-class tourist destinations overlooking Albay Gulf whose grand opening is slated before the end of this year.

Discovery Bay Misibis is a P1.6-billion luxury resort on a vast beachfront property placed under the administration of HSAI Raintree, a reputable hospitality management firm behind several well-known tourist facilities in the country like Discovery Suites and Country Suites in Tagaytay City and Discovery Shores in Boracay.

It would be composed of 38 luxury villas and 100-room three-story resort units within the five-hectare property that is more luxurious than the Discovery Shores in Boracay.

“Unlike Boracay that caters more to party crowds, Misibis would serve as haven for eco-tourists who prefer nature and adventure,” Co said.

Other amenities that could be expected from Misibis are horseback riding around the 400-hectare Cagraray Island and interaction with rare animals at a petting zoo that would be set up within the area, he added.

The Misibis Residential Estate that lies within a 20-hectare elevated terrain gifted below with clean and fine white sand beaches, crystal-clear seawater and green environment is comprised of 300 residential properties sold mostly to Filipino-American and Japanese retirees for private development.

The Donsol resort hotel will be master-planned by the world-renowned Australia-based BN Group Pty.Ltd, the same firm behind Sydney Marina, KLCC Suria Complex in Kuala Lumpur and the Embarcadero here, Co said.

Embarcadero, a tourism mall complex also owned by MLI and located at a busy seafront district of this city is expected to open by December this year.

The development of the Donsol resort would start perhaps by early next year and once completed and made operational.

Co said this facility will spur the growth of the whale shark town into a luxurious haven for eco-tourists.

Thousands of foreign tourists arrive at the place during whale shark interaction seasons starting summer to the third quarter of the year but at present, there are no hotel facilities in the area to accommodate them, he said.

What happens now is that these tourists would stay at hotels in this city, go to Donsol that is 40 kilometers away in the morning then return to their hotels late in the afternoon, Co said.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the details are being finalized but this would come after the three pilot areas are completed.  The Davao area will have four sites and two of these are in Davao City said DOT XI regional director Sonia Garcia.

Durano explained that under Greet program the focus also will be the participation of the community.  He cited that in Donsol, Sorsogon the community had champion the “Greet” through their whale shark watching. The other areas are in Bohol where the chocolate hills are located and in Siargo in the Caraga Region. Mesalamine
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Under the program, they need to level the playing field by giving the community easy access to skills, capital, market opportunities plus value formation.

In Donsol, he said 60 fishing boats were transformed into tourists boats that will ferry visitors to the area where they will get first hand look of the whale sharks and the fishermen as “butanting” tour guide.

Right now, he said, the Donsol community are advocating other communities by using tourism to gain livelihood.

“We will not move in the area unless we are done in a community,” he said.

Durano was hinting for glamorous camping or ‘Glamping’ in Mt. Apo. The place is ideal to try out the concept among foreign tourists who would experience culture and nature through camping and yet get high-end reception just like in five-star hotels.

He pictured ‘glamping’ as one that involves safari-style adventure with champagne, fine dining, rustic luxury of air-conditioned tents, hot water and other amenities.

He said this type of adventure has become popular among wealthy travelers from North America, Europe and Africa where resorts offer king-sized bed with Persian rugs and others.

From mountain trekking to spelunking, encountering rare migratory birds or giant whale sharks, the Department of Tourism (DOT) formally lunged into the Adventure Philippines campaign at the recent Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB Berlin), the largest travel fair in the world.

According to Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism, “ITB Berlin is the definitive venue for the global travel and tourism industry. Naturally, this proved to be the best place to present the Philippines as one of the top adventure travel destinations in Asia.”

Announced during the first quarter of this year, Adventure Philippines promotes the country as the region’s center for ecotourism, nature exploration, scuba diving and water sports, and extreme quests.

The DOT has partnered with R.O.X. (Recreational Outdoor Exchange), the biggest outdoor equipment retailer in Southeast Asia, in developing packages and marketing activities.

Durano shared that for a destination to be considered part of Philippine Adventure, it should touch on at least two of three components: involves a physical activity, allows for cultural exchange and interaction, and engages the natural environment or ecology.

Some of the Philippine Adventure excursions announced at the 42nd ITB include hiking and trekking on the various mountain peaks across the country, scuba diving in wreck sites and coral reefs around the islands, white-water rafting, surfing in Siargao, windsurfing in Boracay, mountain biking through Northern Luzon, whale shark interaction in the waters of Donsol, spelunking down the ancient caves of Sagada and rock climbing on the limestone faces of Palawan.

“Our participation in this year’s ITB showed a new side of the Philippines. As we strengthened the country’s positioning as a relaxing tropical getaway, we also featured destinations for travelers that are out for an adrenaline rush. At the end of the day, it’s all about the Philippines offering more than the usual experiences and giving more reasons for visitors to come back,” Durano elaborated.

The 42nd ITB Berlin was held at the sprawling 160,000 square meter fairground of the Center ICC in Berlin, Germany. Reputed to be the leading event for the international travel industry, over 11,000 travel wholesalers, resorts, hotels, airlines, cruises, tourism associations, national tourism offices and other tourism-related enterprises from 180 countries and territories were on exhibit for business-to-business transactions and meetings with potential tourists.

This year’s expo drew in over 180,000 guests comprised of business decision makers and individuals planning their next holiday.

The 200 square-meter Philippine pavilion featured the breathtaking landscapes, exhilarating extreme sports activities and awe-inspiring dive sites around the islands.

Tour operators Annset Holidays, Art of Travel, Baron Travel, Blue Horizon and Intas Destination Management met up with their counterparts for joint marketing promotions, as well as accommodated inquiries from interested thrill-seekers and vacationers.

Likewise, Pinjalo Resort/Calypso Divers featured the country’s world-renowned diving attractions to the watersports sector. Flag carrier Philippine Airlines showcased the various access points to the country, as well as their own package tours.

Badian Island Resort & Spa, Coco Beach Resort, Dos Palmas Resort and Spa, El Nido Resorts, Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa, Hotel Villa Sunset Boracay, Mandala Spa & Villas, Microtel Inns and Suites, Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort & Spa, Mandala Spa & Villas, and The Ananyana presented their amenities and services.

Members of the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company gave exhibit visitors a sampling of the country’s culture, music and festivities with daily musical and dance performances.

DOT representatives who led the Philippine delegation at the ITB included DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque, Jr., DOT Marketing Head for Team Europe Verna Buensuceso and Frankfurt-based Tourism Attaché Venus Tan.

The said project brings together the DOT, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Kalikasan and US-based nonprofit organization Conservation International to identify, develop and promote various ecotourism sites around the country.

According to Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, “Our vision is for the Philippines to be recognized as a leading destination for ecotourism. The islands are already blessed with breathtaking natural beauty on land and underwater. The next step for us is to support our local communities and tourism establishments and stakeholders in conserving and properly utilizing this wealth.”

Under the Memorandum of Agreement, Magandang Pilipinas engages the participating agencies to manage and promote key ecotourism sites in the Philippines.

For its part, the DOT will work with Bantay Kalikasan and the DENR in orienting and assisting local governments in undertaking projects that uphold the environmental and cultural integrity of their area.

Likewise, the DOT will develop and implement activities to promote ecotourism sites to domestic and international travel markets.

Pilot areas and attractions under the Magandang Pilipinas project include whale shark interaction in Donsol, Sorsogon, the Verde Island Marine Passage Corridor between Batangas and Mindoro, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, the marine protected area and limestone karst in El Nido, and the Tubbataha National Marine Park.

Also to be tapped by Magandang Pilipinas are areas currently under the DOT’s ecotourism program with New Zealand’s International Aid & Development Agency (NZAID). These include the Banawe Rice Terraces in Ifugao, dolphin watching in Pamilacan, Bohol, the Hundred Islands in Pangasinan, Sapang Bato in Pampanga and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato.

“Ecotourism effectively links environmental conservation with socio-economic welfare. By helping communities protect and promote the natural wonders in their area, we open up sustainable livelihood opportunities brought about by tourism,” Durano said.