PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE TOURISM IN SOME PARTS OF SOUTHERN CEBU

For some tourists, Southern Cebu seems to be a breath of fresh air from the fast cars, buzzy roads, and construction cranes of the exhausting city. It is a picture of carefree country life where instead of walking down the arcaded pavements full of people toting designer bags, grueling traffic, constant honks of cars and buses and employees rushing back and forth to comply a demanding job; you can see a wide quilt of golden, brown and green squares of the field, dip and sway of the waves, different species of flora and can feel the fragrance of the wind. And because of the bustling life the city caters, some tourists choose to travel south.

However, as people travel more & the world becomes closer, don’t we have to play our part in creating responsible tourism?

Sustainable, blue, green, eco… Responsible tourism comes with a whole host of hashtags these days, but what does it actually mean?

Based on Cape Town Declaration, responsible tourism is about “making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit.” Responsible Tourism requires that operators, hoteliers, governments, local people and tourists take responsibility, take action to make tourism more sustainable.But do people actually view tourism as a separate for-profit industry? Are we starting to promote responsible tourism?

Recently, students from Cebu Normal University visited three tourist spots in the South to check if these certain places are guided with the principle of responsible tourism and here’s what they have found out:

Standing at more than a hundred tall, the majestic Tumalog Falls of Oslob, Cebu is a must-see for every tourist. Also called “Toslob falls or Mag-ambak Falls”, it sits secluded at Barangay Luka, just 15-20 minutes away from Oslob’s famous Whale Shark watching.

There are many ways by which spectators describe Tumalog. Some describe it as “gossamer” since the descending waters create a silky fabric. Some say it’s akin to “horsehair” with how the water trickles down to bottom, forming a horse’s tail or neck hair. Some also say it looks like a transparent curtain shrouding an entire cliff. Whatever it may be, Tumalog possesses this lure one will never tire of watching. Like the way the sun shines on the cascading waterfall, glistening like crystals on a cliff. Indeed, heaven has come down to earth.This beauty lays untouched by any commercial development. It is surrounded by century-old trees, bamboos, and other greens. The natural relaxing vibe that the place gives off makes all the 4-hour travel from the city worth it.

Although the amenities are very limited—few cottages, a dressing room located a hundred yards

away from the attraction, these are still well tended. The caretakers see to it that trashes are taken care of. They also encourage visitors, both local and foreign to be responsible. As a matter of fact, as you pay the entrance fee, you can see a list of their rules and regulations posted which include preserving and protecting the nature of the waterfalls.

“Among isulti sa among guest na kung mangaon sila, kay ilabay lang ilng sagbot sa proper na labayanan. Dayun, strikto jd nga no smoking” said Eunelisa A. Oville, tourism staff of the Tumalog falls when asked on the measures they implement to maintain the cleanliness of the place.

However, she added that the flow of water in Tumalog has decreased. She said that it was due to El Nino that ravaged Cebu last year. The crisis amounted to millions of damage in properties, the Tumalog Falls as one of the casualties. On July 2016, during the dry spell, Tumalog Falls is on the brink of drying up, producing only trickles of water. It lost its grandeur. What remained is a cliff of moss-covered bedrocks with few strings of water flowing down. The scene was heartbreaking. Nonetheless, it regained its former glory. But it was evident that the water flow decreased.

NASA describes El Nino as a natural phenomenon, arriving roughly every 2-7 years. A decade or two from now, will Tumalog Falls eventually dry up? Hopefully not. The future deserves what this little paradise has to offer.

Now, let us step on the gas and travel forward.

Oslob is best known for its famous tourist attraction which is the Whale Shark Watching because the tourists get to swim with these gentle giants or tuki, as the locals call it. It has a significant impact on the life of the locals for it has brought new means to earn money but with it also comes certain issues concerning the well-being of the whale sharks.

There have been a lot of concerns raised regarding the Oslob whale shark watching. The main concern is its adverse effects on the whale sharks. Since whale sharks are continuously traveling in search for food mostly planktons and uyap (prawns), the nutrition they are getting from the food being fed to them by the locals might not be enough and they may also get a bacterial infection.

“Kada adlaw jud na sila mo ari diri kay naa may magpakaon nila na mga tao na taga diri gyud. Ang ilang gi ari diri kay ang pagkaon. While mag watching ang guest kay naa say magpakaon.”, said Virgie, the caretaker upon interview, who did not want to provide her last name. (The whale sharks come here every day because people feed them. They come here for the food. While the guests (tourists) are watching, the workers feed them.)

Almost ten whale sharks visit the area every day. “Walay mga whale sharks mo ari basta grabe ka kusog ang hangin,” She added.

She also assured that the sea water is clean since there are staffs tasked to maintain the cleanliness of the place. They are called the Bantay Dagat. Guests are briefed before they proceed to watch the whale sharks. During the briefing, they are told not to touch the whale sharks, not to bring food with them in the boat, and not to feed the gentle giants. A penalty will be given to those who violate the rules. Virgie also stated that they are stricter on implementing the rules to make sure that the whale sharks are not harmed in any way.

Lastly, let’s leave Oslob and pay the Municipality of Alcoy a visit.

Adequate sanitary facilities such as comfort rooms is one important factor to consider in establishing a tourist site, but in the case of Tingko Beach Resort in Alcoy, it is what they lack.

The infamous Tingko beach is one of the most visited beaches in Cebu. With its fine white sand and clear blue waters, tourists and locals alike get to enjoy a scenery straight out of a magazine and makes them think it's too good for a public beach. On another note, some would also say they had a poor experience.

Located by the highway, the resort and its cottages are very near the water, so when the tide is high, the shoreline gets shorter and narrower which makes it difficult for beachgoers to settle down with their belongings without getting them wet.

The staffs always encourage tourists to make use of the tables provided near the shoreline with a fee of Php200, since getting a table is not inclusive in the Php20 fee collected upon entering the beach's premises. Without availing the rentals, employees strictly prohibit putting belongings in the area.

Even setting up a camper within the vicinity requires an amount of money. Rooms are available for travelers who want to stay overnight. Each costs Php1800 for an overnight stay but the fee is not inclusive of a comfort room and water usage.

A common restroom is located outside the rooms and requires a Php25 fee for water usage. The restroom has 2 designated areas, for men and women. According to an employee, on some days there is a scarcity of water, and it's difficult for them to accommodate a number of guests who want to use their water supply.

Several trash bags are also provided in the area but according to the caretaker, some people still litter, leave their trash on the tables, and don't seem to notice where the trash bags are located. "Naa gihapon manggamit dinhi dae nga biyaan ra ilang mga basura. Kami gihapon tig limpyo." They still need to clean up regularly as to maintain the cleanliness of the area.

Despite decades of debate on responsible tourism, its application in practice remains difficult. Yes, it is fast becoming a global trend. A number of tourists are looking for a better experience, better summer shindig, better escape and operators, owners and local people strive to meet the consumers’ expectations. However, may we never forget that the concerns of the tourism industry for its survival in the middle of the crises should not make us lose our goal but instead push us to make greater efforts in promoting sustainability and responsibility.