Exploring Sustainable Tourism Practices: A Qualitative Study of the Local Community Perspective in Amadeo, Cavite
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65339/ijsair.V2.I2.391Keywords:
Community Participation, Cultural Preservation, Economic Opportunities, Environmental Awareness, Local Governance, Sustainable Tourism, Tourism Development, Waste ManagementAbstract
This study explored sustainable tourism practices in Amadeo, Cavite from the perspective of the local community. It aimed to identify the practices implemented in the municipality, determine their perceived environmental, economic, and socio-cultural effects, examine their contribution to quality of life, and identify the benefits and challenges experienced by residents. The study was anchored on Sustainable Tourism Development Theory and the triple bottom-line framework, emphasizing the balance among environmental protection, economic development, and socio-cultural preservation. A qualitative research design was used, with data gathered through a validated structured interview guide. Four purposively selected key informants participated in the study: a tourism officer, a coffee farm owner, a barangay council member, and a homestay operator, all of whom had direct knowledge of sustainable tourism initiatives in Amadeo. Findings revealed that sustainable tourism strengthened environmental awareness through waste management, tree planting, organic farming, clean-up activities, and environmental education. It also promoted cultural pride, local traditions, coffee-based identity, livelihood opportunities, entrepreneurship, and community participation in tourism governance. However, challenges were also identified, including waste accumulation, damage to farms during peak tourism periods, rising prices, uneven access to benefits, infrastructure strain, limited awareness, and possible commercialization of traditions. The study concludes that sustainable tourism in Amadeo contributes to community development but requires inclusive planning, stronger governance, improved infrastructure, and continuous education. The study is aligned with SDG 8, SDG 11, SDG 12, SDG 13, SDG 15, and SDG 17. Its sustainability impact lies in supporting environmental protection, cultural preservation, local economic resilience, participatory governance, and community-based tourism development.
References
Añonuevo, K. I. (2024, January 16). Sustainable tourism in the Philippines: How to be a responsible traveler. Guide to the Philippines. https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/ultimate-guides/sustainable-tourism-philippines
Attride-Stirling, J. (2001). Thematic networks: An analytic tool for qualitative research. Qualitative Research, 1(3), 385–405. https://doi.org/10.1177/146879410100100307
Barten, M. (2024, July 12). Sustainable tourism guide: What is, why important, examples and more. Revfine.com. https://www.revfine.com/sustainable-tourism/
Boyatzis, R. E. (1998). Transforming qualitative information: Thematic analysis and code development. SAGE Publications.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Budeanu, A., Miller, G., Moscardo, G., & Ooi, C.-S. (2016). Sustainable tourism: Progress, challenges and opportunities: An introduction. Journal of Cleaner Production, 111, 285–294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.10.027
Collins Dictionary. (n.d.). Environmental definition and meaning. In Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved May 8, 2026, from https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/environmental
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Elkington, J. (1994). Towards the sustainable corporation: Win-win-win business strategies for sustainable development. California Management Review, 36(2), 90–100. https://doi.org/10.2307/41165746
Elkington, J. (2020). Green swans: The coming boom in regenerative capitalism. Fast Company Press. https://fastcompanypress.com/authors/green-swans/
Hall, C. M. (2019). Constructing sustainable tourism development: The 2030 agenda and the managerial ecology of sustainable tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(7), 1044–1060. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2018.1560456
Hall, C. M., Gössling, S., & Scott, D. (Eds.). (2015). The Routledge handbook of tourism and sustainability. Routledge.
Hayes, A. (2024). Economics defined with types, indicators, and systems. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/economics.asp
Jojo, A. (2023, December 27). Amadeo: The hidden gem of Philippine coffee culture. Realttorney. https://realttorney.com/2023/12/27/amadeo-the-hidden-gem-of-philippine-coffee-culture/
Li, J., Krishnamurthy, S., Pereira Roders, A., & van Wesemael, P. (2020). Community participation in cultural heritage management: A systematic literature review comparing Chinese and international practices. Cities, 96, 102476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2019.102476
Liu, Y., Shi, H., Su, Z., & Kumail, T. (2022). Sustainability and risks of rural household livelihoods in ethnic tourist villages: Evidence from China. Sustainability, 14(9), 5409. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095409
Muresan, I. C., Oroian, C. F., Harun, R., Arion, F. H., Porutiu, A., Chiciudean, G. O., Todea, A., & Lile, R. (2016). Local residents’ attitude toward sustainable rural tourism development. Sustainability, 8(1), Article 100. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8010100
Nikolopoulou, K. (2022, August 11). What is purposive sampling? | Definition & examples. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/purposive-sampling/
Notorio, P. A. C., Mandigma, E. C., Jr., Desingaño, B. R., Buenviaje, J. S., & Mejia, G. C. R. (2017). Predictors of sustainable tourism perceptions: A case of the province of Cavite, Philippines. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Management, 4, 43–55. https://doi.org/10.17501/icoht.2016.4106
Scheyvens, R. (2002). Tourism for development: Empowering communities. Prentice Hall.
Sharma, P. (2023, September 27). Sustainable tourism practices. Enterclimate. https://enterclimate.com/blog/sustainable-tourism-practices/
United Nations Environment Programme, & World Tourism Organization. (2005). Making tourism more sustainable: A guide for policy makers. World Tourism Organization. https://doi.org/10.18111/9789284408214
Wardle, R. (2021, October 21). What is sustainable tourism and why is it important? FutureLearn. https://www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/what-is-sustainable-tourism
