Boracay Island: A Case for Reversing Over-Development to Promote Sustainable

Tourism

By Roselle Tenefrancia10 July 2010

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

“Hardly has a last paradise been discovered than everyone

converges on it so fast that it quickly becomes a paradise

lost.”

– A quote about Bali

“Hardly has a last paradise been discovered than everyone

converges on it so fast that it quickly becomes a paradise

lost.”

– A quote about Bali

The distinct presence of the “flying foxes” is certainly an added feature that makes this famed island even more special.

BORACAY ISLAND, MALAY,, AKLAN

CENTRAL PHLIPPINES

AREA: 1,006.64 hectares (10.0664 sq km)

Part of Malay town in the province of Aklan

NAME: “BORACAY”•BORAC - Cotton•BORA – Bubbles•BOCAY – White

Physical history:•uplifted remnants of ancient coral reef platform •mangrove systems and marine life and coral reef eco-system

Socio-cultural history:•Atis – indigenous tribe•Families from Malay/Aklan•70s – discovered by movie “Too Late the Hero; German travel writer

1. Balabag 2742. Manoc-manoc 4163. Yapak 316

Boracay now…

• Remnants of unplanned mass tourism development

• with the factor of small-scale overdevelopment

• Mismanagement, lack of political will, conflicting personal business interests, politicking among the stakeholders, and the complacency of the residents and local communities

Boracay now…

• what used to be a nature-destination became an island metropolis that resembles a mini urbanized city

Impact of laws and policies and changes in political climate

• Boracay Island declared tourism zone and marine reserve - 1978.

• Boracay island as an environmentally critical area – 1981

• 1983- recognition of the consequent problems incident to influx of tourists such as drug use, prostitution, illegal gathering of shells and corals and other illicit acts

Impact of laws and policies and changes in political climate

• 1983 - Mayor of Malay was also mandated to suspend the issuance of building permits for any structure on the Island until the Philippine Tourism Authority would promulgate a development plan

• 1986 – People Power Revolution• 1990 – Development Master Plan• 1991 – devolution of tourism power to local

governments

Increase in tourist arrivals was the focus of the tourism authorities and the industry in recent years

IN 2009 • almost 700,000 tourist arrivals• about 8,000 room accommodations, • about 300 resorts ranging from hostel-type to 5-star

luxury accommodations and 500 restaurants, and • a hundred different establishments, ranging from

retail, transport and communication services, educational institutions, medical facilities, retail stores, supermarkets, repair shops, construction and property development companies, and many other services and establishments,

• 25,000 residents

Expansion of the road network included filling up the waterway from the Dead Forest to the sea

Bay walk along the new road

Construction projects are common sights on the Island all year round.

• Rapid developments in Boracay were ongoing without control or regulation from any authority.

In 2004: New government: reiterated the 1978 proclamation and created Eminent Persons Group-Boracay

One of its powers: Formulate plans for the sustainable development of tourism in Boracay

LGC: assigns tourism development and promotions program to Provincial Government

Complementing with LGU

In 2006Proclamation 1064 •controversial document•declared 400 hectares as forestland for protection and swamps – placing most of the existing land claimants under the mercy of the DENR and DOT rules regarding protection forests

DELINEATION OF FORESTLANDBOUNDARY

Boracay Island, Malay, AklanRADT No. 36 & 46

LOCATION:

Brgys.: Balabag, Yapak & Manoc – manoc

Municipality : Malay

Province: Aklan

Kilometers Delineated: 27

Legends:

Corner Monuments

Barangay Boundary

Delineated (km) (Subject for Correction)

For Delineation (km)

Forestland

A and D

PROJECT No. 13-ABlock A(Protection Purposes)

PROJECT No. 13-ABlock B(Protection Purposes)

PROJECT No. 13-ABlock C(Protection Purposes)

PROJECT No. 13-ABlock D(Protection Purposes)

PROJECT No. 13-ABlock E(Protection Purposes)

PROJECT No. 13-ABlock F(Protection Purposes)

PROJECT No. 13-ABlock G(Protection Purposes)

PROJECT No. 13-ABlock H(Protection Purposes)

PROJECT No. 13-ABlock J(Protection Purposes)

PROJECT No. 13-ABlock I(Protection Purposes)

Introduction of the Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes (FLAgT)

Where is Boracay now?using the lifecycle model of Miller and Gallucci

By 2018, DOT anticipates 27,600 residents living and Boracay and 2million tourist arrivals.

Year % of increase from previous

year2005 16.492006 10.962007 7.672008 6.292009 2.41

Tourist Arrivals in Boracay

* the number of foreign tourists has declined beginning 2008 by 5%, while local tourists increased in number. In 2009, the number of foreign tourists also lowered by 2%.

1997 Study on Carrying Capacity of Boracay Island (W.Trousdale)

16indicators using 5 parametersParameters Indicators

Physical Ground Water Quality - ExceededGround Water Quantity –

UnsustainableMarine Water Quality – UnsustainableLand – Not exceededSewage – ExceededSolid Waste - Exceeded

Tourist Perceptions Crowding – White Beach - UnsustainableCrowding – All Beaches - UnsustainableGeneral Perceptions – Unsustainable

1997 Study on Carrying Capacity of Boracay Island (W.Trousdale)

16indicators using 5 parameters

Residents’ Perceptions General perceptions Unsustainable

Transport Air Access – Not exceededBoat Transport from Mainland –

Not exceededRoads and road system on the

island Unsustainable; possible exceeded

Vehicles - Exceeded

Governance LGUImplementation of laws is a problem. Others (DENR, DOT, Regional

government)

Government InitiativesNational CLUP – 2008-2023

(15 years)• strategic and specific

measures on population management, education, health, housing, social welfare, protection and sports and recreation. The plan will serve as a blueprint for the development and management of Boracay in the next 15 years.

National Boracay Environmental Master Plan – 2008-2033 (25 years)

• examines the current state of the island as an ecosystem

• attempts to ensure the over-all sustainability of development in the Island,

• addresses environmental issues, and

• prescribes participatory governance

2009 Marine Parks:

•Angol Point Reef•Tambisaan and Crocodile Reef •Tulubhan Reef •Ilig-Iligan Reef •Balinghai Reef •Lapus-Lapus Reef •Sa-Id Point Reef •Punta-Bunga Reef (recently declared in 2009)•Bunyugan Reef (recently declared in 2009)

Private Sector Initiatives

The Boracay Beach Management Plan (BBMP)• offshoot of a coral restoration project that

was started five years ago; • “holistic” – from hill to coral reefs• comprehensive management of resources to

rehabilitate the coral reefs • implementation with the LGU and national

enforcement agencies

Private Sector InitiativesThe Boracay Initiative© covers three stages: (1)Establishment of a volunteer-tourism program for the conduct of

research (environmental, legal, and socio-economic, political, historical, and cultural research) and monitoring activities (including on-site visits) with the cooperation of the tourist operators/businesses on the Island;

(2) Data gathering, analysis and reporting to the various stakeholders; and,

(3) Recommendations for best practices programs to the private sector, and recommendations for policy reform and review to local and national government agencies. The monitoring and evaluation mechanisms shall become an ongoing program of the Boracay Initiative©.

Ecotourism Options for Malay

Ecotourism Options and Sustainable Tourism for Boracay

• CLUP, Boracay Environmental Master Plan, and Marine Parks, and TEZ

• Back to Nature– managing the marine protected areas (marine

parks) – rehabilitation of the mangrove systems

Protecting Marine Life

Protecting Marine Life

Rehabilitation of the Forests

Ecotourism Options and Sustainable Tourism for Boracay

• Large-scale sustainable tourism development over small-scale overdevelopment. – the Boracay experience has shown that in

aggregate, a number of small-scale developments had more damaging power to the island.

– more sustainable in terms of efficiency and monitoring capabilities to lessen or mitigate impact of tourism activities within an area

Ecotourism Options and Sustainable Tourism for Boracay

Community Action

• Greenpeace: Save the Climate Save Boracay

Ecotourism Options and Sustainable Tourism for Boracay

Community Action• Boracay Young Professionals (YUPPIES)

– Weekly Beach Clean up and Awareness Campaign in schools - Dutch

Bikes

Ecotourism Options and Sustainable Tourism for Boracay

Community Action• Recycled Art in Boracay

Ecotourism Options and Sustainable Tourism for Boracay

Community Action

www.sunboracay.com A printed and online community newspaper by Boracay for the world.

Laws and Governance mechanisms in place

• Environmental Impact Assessment System for Environmentally Critical Projects and Areas

• The Tourism Act of 2009 that governs the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Authority and the Tourism Enterprise Zones

• the Proclamation 1064 vis-à-vis the Guidelines for the Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes

• the Boracay Environmental Master Plan • the Comprehensive Land Use Plan • the local ordinances declaring Marine Parks • and the rules and regulations being implemented by the

various enforcement groups on Boracay Island

Boracay Next…

• Proactive management and initiatives of the private sector

• providing the proficiency in the tourism industry to the relatively young and less tourism-oriented local government of Malay

• BBMP and the Boracay Initiative© should assist in integrating all these laws to come up with IMMEDIATE and PRACTICAL measures to achieve the Public – Private partnership for Boracay Island’s sustainable tourism

PROTECTION FOR BORACAY IS NOW!