| The abundance of natural and cultural resources has provided a strong base for tourism development in many destinations in the Philippines. Claimed as one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the Philippines, Puerto Galera in Mindoro Island is one of the most popular beach destinations in the country for its white sand cove beaches, forest and mountains. It boasts of having a cluster of beach resorts that primarily attract visitors. Aside from these, the place contains several attractions which are nature-based and is one of the best diving sites in the Philippines. In addition, it is home to the Mangyans, one of the indigenous people in the Philippines whose culture has evolved through time. Although the natural and cultural attributes of the place provide clear indication that Puerto Galera can be a potential ecotourism destination, the island is more popularly known as a beach mass tourism destination.
This study aims to determine if Puerto Galera having the natural and cultural attributes can still become an ecotourism destination. Specifically, the study aims to examine the current state of the tourism demand and supply attributes of Puerto Galera and assess whether it can still be developed and promoted as an ecotourism destination. SWOT analysis is performed to determine the island’s potential as an ecotourism destination. |
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http://www.apngcr.org/en/products/project%20outputs/Jan%202008/ARCP2007-03CMY-Nadaoka_ICHE08_Fullpaper_Tanuspong_Final2.pdf |