Assessing Eco-Friendly Initiatives in Local Destinations: The Case of Davao City

Article Sidebar

Main Article Content

Febus M. Ogaya
Instructor, Department of Hospitality and Tourism, DMMA College of Southern Philippines
Woody M. Redaja
Instructor, Department of Hospitality and Tourism, DMMA College of Southern Philippines
Published: Jun 17, 2025

Abstract: Davao City, one of the leading urban centers in the Philippines, has positioned itself as a pioneer in integrating sustainability into local tourism. This study evaluates the eco-friendly initiatives undertaken by the city and assesses their impact on tourism, local communities, and environmental management. By utilizing a mixed-methods approach combining surveys, interviews, and field observations, this research explores the implementation, effectiveness, and challenges of programs such as ecological waste management, community-based tourism, and sustainable accommodations. The findings reveal a high level of awareness among tourists and a strong commitment among stakeholders, yet point to persistent challenges in infrastructure, policy enforcement, and community engagement. This paper concludes with recommendations to reinforce eco-tourism strategies in Davao City and offers insights for other urban destinations in the Global South.
Assessing Eco-Friendly Initiatives in Local Destinations: The Case of Davao City . (2025). International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering Management & Applied Science, 14(5), 685-688. https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2025.140500072

Downloads

References

Bramwell, B., & Lane, B. (2011). Critical research on the governance of tourism and sustainability. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 19(4–5), 411–421. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2011.580586

Department of Tourism. (2020). National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan 2013–2022. Manila: Government of the Philippines.

Dodds, R., & Joppe, M. (2005). CSR in the tourism industry? The status of and potential for certification, codes of conduct and guidelines. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 17(6), 524–536. https://doi.org/10.1108/09596110510612112

Davao City Government. (2023). Davao City feted anew for environmental initiatives. Retrieved from https://www.davaocity.gov.ph/environment/davao-city-feted-anew-for-environmental-initiatives/

Davao City Tourism Office. (2024). Panunod: A Way of Life. Retrieved from https://www.davaocity.gov.ph/tourism/davao-city-tourism-2nd-place-tourism-champion-challenge-kadayawan-village/

Fennell, D. A. (2008). Ecotourism. Routledge.

Gössling, S., & Hall, C. M. (2006). Uncertainties in predicting tourist travel flows based on models. Climatic Change, 79(3–4), 163–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-006-9081-y

Honey, M. (2008). Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise? Island Press.

Scheyvens, R. (1999). Ecotourism and the empowerment of local communities. Tourism Management, 20(2), 245–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(98)00069-7

SunStar Davao. (2024). Davao City pushes for environmental sustainability. Retrieved from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/davao-city-pushes-for-envi-sustainability

The International Ecotourism Society. (2015). TIES Global Ecotourism Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://ecotourism.org/news/ties-global-ecotourism-fact-sheet/

UNWTO. (2018). Tourism for Sustainable Development in Least Developed Countries. Madrid: World Tourism Organization.

Weaver, D. (2006). Sustainable Tourism: Theory and Practice. Elsevier.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

All articles published in our journal are licensed under CC-BY 4.0, which permits authors to retain copyright of their work. This license allows for unrestricted use, sharing, and reproduction of the articles, provided that proper credit is given to the original authors and the source.

Article Details

How to Cite

Assessing Eco-Friendly Initiatives in Local Destinations: The Case of Davao City . (2025). International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering Management & Applied Science, 14(5), 685-688. https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2025.140500072