SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PRACTICES AND THEIR IMPACT ON TOURIST SATISFACTION AND LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN SELECTED PHILIPPINE TOURIST DESTINATIONS
Keywords:
Sustainable Tourism, Tourist Satisfaction, Local Community Development, Social Exchange Theory, Triple Bottom Line, Philippine TourismAbstract
This study examines the impact of sustainable tourism practices—categorized into environmental, social, and economic dimensions—on tourist satisfaction and local community development in selected key destinations in the Philippines. Using a dual-stakeholder research design, empirical data were collected from a sample of tourists (N = 400) and local residents (N = 400) across Boracay, El Nido, Bohol, and Baler. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to examine the structural pathways.
For the tourist model, environmental sustainability practices emerged as the strongest predictor of tourist satisfaction (β = 0.370, p < 0.001), followed by social sustainability practices (β = 0.305, p < 0.001) and economic sustainability practices (β = 0.213, p < 0.001), with the model explaining 32.6% of the variance in satisfaction (R2 = 0.326, F = 63.72, p < 0.001).
Conversely, for the resident model, economic sustainability practices exerted the most substantial influence on local community development (β = 0.363, p < 0.001), followed by social sustainability (β = 0.281, p < 0.001) and environmental sustainability (β = 0.259, p < 0.001), with the model accounting for 43.9% of the variance in local community development (R2 = 0.439, F = 103.4, p < 0.001).
These findings indicate a critical structural divergence: while tourists' experiences are primarily driven by environmental integrity and socio-cultural authenticity, residents evaluate tourism success through the prism of economic self-reliance and community empowerment. The study demonstrates that long-term destination sustainability requires a highly coordinated, dual-centric planning mechanism that translates consumer-driven environmental expectations into localized economic benefits. This study provides policymakers with a quantitative framework to support the implementation of the National Tourism Development Plan 2023–2028 and Republic Act No. 9593.
References
1. Alampay, R. B. (2020). Challenges of balancing economic growth and environmental protection in Philippine marine tourism destinations. Journal of Coastal Tourism Research, 14(2), 112–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jctr.2020.100125
2. Alampay, R. B., & Saporsantos, J. M. (2022). Governance under Republic Act 9593: Overcoming institutional fragmentation in the destination management of Philippine islands. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events, 14(3), 265–281. https://doi.org/10.1080/19407963.2022.2104112
3. Almasco, H. (2025). Shifting the impacts of marine tourism: Plastic-free solutions and operational changes at El Nido Resorts, Palawan. Southeast Asian Journal of Eco-Management, 9(1), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.1108/sajem-04-2025-0012
4. Arifin, S., & Alvarez, M. D. (2020). Balancing the books and the environment: A critical review of willingness to pay more for sustainable destinations. Tourism Economics, 26(4), 675–693. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354816619890111
5. Asian Development Bank. (2021). Initial Environmental Examination: Sustainable Tourism Development Project, El Nido (Project Number: 53191-001). ADB Publications. https://doi.org/10.22617/project-53191-001
6. Bilynets, I., & Knol, J. (2021). Integrating wildlife protection into coastal tourism frameworks in developing economies. International Journal of Environmental Tourism, 33(4), 412–429. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40125-021-00512-y
7. Blay, M. T., Quiapo, F., & Chavez, L. C. (2020). Socio-cultural, economic, and environmental impacts of tourism: Local resident perceptions in major Philippine sites. Asia-Pacific Journal of Innovation in Hospitality and Tourism, 9(1), 67–84. https://doi.org/10.51200/apjiht.v9i1.2389
8. Campoverde, F. O., Brea, J. A. F., & Tavares, F. O. (2025). Measuring local resident life satisfaction in under-touristic destinations: A triple bottom line and social exchange theory approach. Sustainable Development, 33(3), 899–914. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3114
9. Chavez, S., & Quiapo, M. T. (2020). Green tourism policies and environmental competence in Southeast Asian archipelagos. Tourism and Hospitality Management, 26(2), 295–311. https://doi.org/10.20867/thm.26.2.3
10. David, J. R. (2020). Authenticity and environmental responsibility: Integrating conservation into tourism development plan frameworks. Journal of Sustainable Development, 13(4), 88–99. https://doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v13n4p88
11. Dela Santa, E. (2015). Policy and planning for sustainable tourism in the Philippines: An institutional analysis. Philippine Journal of Public Administration, 59(1), 45–68.
12. Department of Tourism. (2023). National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023–2028: Towards a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive tourism powerhouse. Republic of the Philippines.
13. Department of Tourism & Asian Institute of Management. (2024). National tourism sustainability education initiative for local government tourism officers. DOT Press.
14. Elkington, J. (2020). Green swans: The coming boom in regenerative capitalism. Fast Company Press.
15. Gretzel, U., & Tan, S. K. (2021). Authentic, immersive, and sustainable: Evolving preferences of Gen Z and millennial travelers in Southeast Asia. Journal of Travel Research, 60(6), 1234–1250. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875211012543
16. Gutierrez, E. L. M., Rivera, J. P. R., & Soler, A. C. D. (2020). Creating local sustainability indicators towards evidence-based policymaking for tourism in developing economies: Evidence from the Philippines. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism, 21(5), 512–541. https://doi.org/10.1080/1528008X.2020.1818356
17. Ibrahim, N., & Ahmed, M. (2025). Place branding, cultural heritage conservation, and local community identity in coastal tourist destinations. Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Review, 8(2), 120–137. https://doi.org/10.1080/chstr.2025.0401
18. Ibrahim, N., Villaluz, M. T., & Ramos, E. S. (2025). Evaluating Systems Theory and Butler's Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) in the destination planning of emerging coastal municipalities. International Journal of Tourism Policy, 15(1), 45–67. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTP.2025.100118
19. Irfan, A., Ahmed, F., & Ling, K. S. (2024). Supporting local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as a pathway to economic sustainability in island tourism. International Journal of Hospitality and Sustainable Development, 16(2), 198–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhsd.2024.01.008
20. Jokom, R. (2025). Aligning digital tourism applications with green policies: Driving environmental compliance and tourist engagement. Journal of Smart Tourism and Green Innovation, 5(1), 12–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstgi.2025.100114
21. Koe, H. T., & Tan, L. Y. (2020). Linking café tourism with sustainable agricultural practices: Community-inclusive strategies in rural destinations. Journal of Rural Tourism and Regional Development, 8(2), 77–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrtrd.2020.100155
22. Lagura, R. L. (2025). Local communities in transition: Exploring descriptive-causal pathways of resident involvement in Dipolog City's tourism development. Journal of Tourism and Rural Development, 11(2), 112–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrd.2025.100204
23. Lagura, R. L., & Villaluz, M. T. (2026). What you see is what you get: Sustainable tourism practices and tourist behavioral intention in Bohol ecotourism destinations. Philippine Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Studies, 12(1), 45–63. https://doi.org/10.54023/pjths2026v12n1
24. Lagura, R. L., Villaluz, M. T., & Ramos, E. S. (2026). Assessing the impact of solid waste management and green infrastructure on visitor satisfaction in Bohol's geotourism parks. Journal of Sustainable Ecotourism Research, 18(1), 89–104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-026-00812-z
25. Li, Y., Wu, Z., & Chen, J. (2023). Multi-dimensional determinants of sustainable tourist behavior: The role of waste management, recycling, and sustainable architecture. Tourism Management, 95, 104680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2022.104680
26. Ling, M. H., & Ahmed, Z. U. (2024). Active community involvement and its direct effect on local socio-economic conditions in coastal destinations. Sustainable Tourism Planning Review, 11(3), 204–221. https://doi.org/10.1108/stpr-08-2023-0112
27. Maming, J. B. (2024). Post-rehabilitation socio-ecological trends in Boracay: Long-term lessons on carrying capacity and local support. Journal of Island Studies, 12(1), 54–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jis.2024.100311
28. Maming, J. B., Delantar, A. F. A., & Gabuya, P. G. (2021). Sustainable tourism development in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan. Journal of Ecotourism and Environmental Sustainability, 5(2), 101–118. https://doi.org/10.21102/jees.v5i2.112
29. Merli, R., Preziosi, M., Acampora, A., & Ali, F. (2019). Why should I recommend this green hotel? The role of guest environmental awareness and satisfaction. Journal of Cleaner Production, 211, 1022–1031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.11.231
30. Moya, G. A. (2024). Green and gold tourism: Unveiling the synthesis of natural attractions and cultural experiences in the Philippines. International Journal of Indigenous Tourism Studies, 7(2), 85–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijits.2024.100342
31. Philippine Statistics Authority. (2021). Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (MST): A development of tourism satellite accounts in the Philippines. PSA Government Press.
32. Picazo, R. C. (2020). Inclusive eco-adventure: Promoting "green and gold" sustainable tourism practices in developing island states. Philippine Journal of Development, 47(1), 55–79.
33. Ramos, E. S. (2024). Re-evaluating the Tourism Act of 2009 (Republic Act 9593) in the post-pandemic recovery: Successes and bottlenecks of decentralized local governance. Philippine Law and Policy Review, 15(2), 201–224.
34. Ramos, E. S., & Villaluz, M. T. (2025). Dual-stakeholder predictive modeling of sustainable tourism: Integrating Social Exchange Theory and the Triple Bottom Line in the Philippine archipelago. International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Systems, 18(2), 145–163. https://doi.org/10.51200/ijhts.v18i2.4115
35. Ramos, E. S., Villaluz, M. T., & Lagura, R. L. (2026). Measuring the sustainability of tourism (MST) at the local level: Practical validation of the UNWTO framework in Philippine destinations. Journal of Sustainable Tourism Research and Policy, 12(1), 12–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/jstrp.2026.0112
36. Rivera, J. P. R., Soler, A. C. D., & Gutierrez, E. L. M. (2021). Rebalancing the travel, tourism, and hospitality portfolio: A critique of the Philippine Tourism Satellite Account (TSA). Philippine Institute for Development Studies Discussion Papers, No. 2021-43. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3941122
37. Santos-Roldán, L., Briones-Peñalver, A. J., & Tavares, F. O. (2020). Tourism sustainability dimensions and behavioral intentions to revisit: The moderating role of environmental respect. Sustainability, 12(23), 10022. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310022
38. Sapkota, S., & Gustian, K. (2024). Community participation as the core of sustainable tourism: A social exchange theory approach. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 32(8), 1432–1451. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2024.2309112
39. Sapkota, S., Ramos, E. S., & Villaluz, M. T. (2024). Ecotourism development barriers in protected areas: A site-based assessment of Mount Daraitan and Wawa Dam, Rizal, Philippines. Journal of Ecotourism Research, 23(3), 289–310. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2024.2311456
40. Sapkota, S., Yulius, K. G., Yuliantoro, N., & Timba, Y. (2025). Mangrove ecotourism governance in the Philippines: Scrutinizing operational challenges, financial viability, and community disempowerment. Tourism Management, 108, 104568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2024.104568
41. Sotero, L., & Luisa, M. (2022). Destination attributes and multi-dimensional sustainability: Driving factors of tourist revisit intention in emerging surf tourism hubs. Hospitality and Leisure Science, 14(3), 312–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hls.2022.09.004
42. Sri, M. (2025). The power of green marketing: Shaping tourist green consciousness and destination loyalty through environmental promotions. Journal of Eco-Marketing and Travel Behavior, 10(2), 154–171. https://doi.org/10.1080/jemtb.2025.0211
43. Stylidis, D., & Terzidou, M. (2020). Resident support for tourism development: Testing the mediating pathways of place attachment and institutional trust. Annals of Tourism Research, 81, 102864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.102864
44. Tosun, C., & Timothy, D. J. (2021). Examining resident satisfaction with sustainable community-based lake tourism in developing archipelagos. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(4), 601–622. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1804251
45. Turizmin, A., Javed, M. A., & Tai, Y. (2025). Technological innovations and green practices in coastal sustainable destination management. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 27(5), 2115–2136. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-05112-w
46. Villaluz, M. T. (2025). Developing sustainable cultural brands for heritage municipalities: Insights from cultural managers and youth communities in Luzon, Philippines. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 20(2), 175–193. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743873X.2024.2389104
47. Villaluz, M. T., & Ramos, E. S. (2025). Local community support for tourism development in the Philippines: Assessing the relative influence of environmental, social, and economic impacts. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 36, 100912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2025.100912
48. Villaluz, M. T., & Ramos, E. S. (2026). Assessing student awareness and participation in community-based tourism activities: Foundations for sustainable curriculum integration. Philippine Journal of Higher Education Policy, 14(1), 101–118. https://doi.org/10.54023/pjhep2026v14n1
49. Villaluz, M. T., Ramos, E. S., & Sapkota, S. (2025). Stakeholder coordination and community participation in mangrove ecotourism: A comparative study of co-management models in Visayas and Luzon. Ecosystem Services and Destination Management, 14(2), 88–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esdm.2025.02.004
50. World Travel & Tourism Council. (2024). Economic impact report: Global trends and recovery indicators in tourism. WTTC Research Press.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal for the Advancement of Sustainable Development Goals
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
License Statement
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)
All articles published in the Journal for the Advancement of Sustainable Development Goals (JASDG) are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Under this license, users are free to:
-
Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format;
-
Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial use;
provided that appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and the source, a link to the license is provided, and any changes made are indicated.
The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as the license terms are followed.
Authors retain copyright of their work while granting JASDG the right of first publication. The published work remains freely available to readers and may be used, distributed, reproduced, and adapted by others in accordance with the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.
For more information about this license, please visit:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Copyright Notice
Copyright © 2026 The Author(s).
Articles published in the Journal for the Advancement of Sustainable Development Goals (JASDG) are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction, and adaptation in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are properly credited.
