You are on page 1of 2

Case Study 2

Local Community, Marine Tourism and Conservation: Pamilacan Island, Bohol


FACTS OF THE PROBLEM:
There are around 70 or more islands surrounding the Bohol province. Pamilacan is one of the
recorded islands existing in the area. The original residents of Pamilacan were pioneering fishers and
whale hunters from nearby islands: Lila, who settled in Pamilacan during the height of the whale
watching venture in the sea of Bohol.
A survey conducted by the Poverty Studies Center in 2008 reveals that the majority of the
population of Pamilacan Island do not have enough food on their tables, making it one of the places in
Bohol who experience poverty.
Pamilacan is one of the best spots in the Philippines for viewing dolphins and sharks in the wild.
A yearly average of 1, 252 tourists was recorded from 2003 to 2008, according to DOT in 2009.
POINT OF VIEW:
The point of view used in the study is the researchers point of view.
PROBLEM:
What are the environmental issues and risks associated with unsustainable use of natural
resources and how to sustain the tourism development in Pamilacan, Bohol.
OBJECTIVE:
To identify the environmental issues and risks associated with unsustainable use of natural
resources and how to sustain the tourism development in Pamilacan, Bohol.
SWOT ANALYSIS:
Strengths
1. Management measures are recommended to ensure that island tourism in particular
wildlife watching is sustained for many generations.
2. Pamilacan is one of the best spots in the Philippines for viewing dolphins and whale sharks
in the wild.
3. The whale and dolphin watching venture in Pamilacan demonstrates how local communities
can be involved in tourism.
Weaknesses
1. Bohol is one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines. Pamilacan Island, itself is an island
experiencing poverty in the country.

2. The traditional hunting of whale sharks had become unsustainable over the recent years
resulting to rapidly dwindling of whale shark population.
3. Host community is being highly dependent on natural resources, that is crucial in ensuring
sustainable nature based tourism.
Opportunities
1. Increasing demand for wildlife tourism.
2. Participation of the host community on tourism planning as well as social and economic
support to set up their own tourism ventures.
3. Under improve tourism management and with better promotional strategies that could gain
financial income of the local community from these changes.
Threats
1. If not properly regulated and supervised, scuba diving and snorkeling can inflict considerable
damage on coral reefs.
2. Exposure to frequent and unpredictable disturbances that may reduce reproductive rate,
high mortality, and abnormal behavioral patterns.
3. Increasing population of residents can generate serious environment and social problems.
CONCLUSION
Pamilacan, with the participation of the local community in sustainable tourism, is once again
demonstrated to be an important ingredient for success. Despite of the many opportunities that the
Pamilacan island could get, the researchers named some of the risks that the island might face in the
future if the problems will not be given serious attention.
The marine wild exposed to different disturbances may experience decrease in reproductive
rate and increase in mortality rate. This will cause their population to deplete over time. The illegal
fishing method of the fishers might deteriorate the coral reefs.
RECOMMENDATION
The ecotourism of Pamilacan should be supervised by the local residents of the island with the
support of government and non-government organizations for the improvement of the tourism industry
of the Pamilacan Island.
In the case of negative socio-cultural effect of increasing tourism demand, the host community
should conduct more environmental-friendly activities. Also, the host community should be given
opportunities to participate in tourism planning as well as social and economic support so that they can
set up their own tourism ventures.

You might also like