Multi-Stakeholder Analysis on Tourism Development in Zambales, Philippines

Abstract

This paper outlined the findings from an empirical investigation to ascertain the differences on the extent of tourism development along with PESTLE factor and how tourism should be sustainably developed as analyzed and perceived by three groups of stakeholders in Zambales: Local Government Unit, Selected Resort Management/customers service office and customers. Based from the findings, the researcher concluded that the three groups of stakeholders such as; Local government unit, management/customer service office and customers/guests, had important contribution for the sustainable tourism development in the province of Zambales. The results of this study provide a better understanding of the perceptions held by tourism stakeholders towards the current state of the tourism industry and how it could be developed holistically. The tourism development in Zambales described as high extent as to political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, legal and environmental factor. The results concluded that tourism development could significantly contribute to economic growth in the province of Zambales through creating new business opportunities to improve standard of living of the community by providing employment. In this regard, in order to improve the current situation of tourism industry, Strategic Development Plan for Sustainable Tourism is proposed. Provincial government of Zambales must design and formulate programs to integrate tourism requirements into all levels of local government unit and would have to take a visionary local government official who has the grit to literally fight for a well-defined and managed tourism industry because it is a chance for municipalities to move up through the help of tourism, yet it requires the cooperation or input of every social and institutional organization such as stakeholders. Therefore, planning for the development of tourism based on sustainable economic development, growth and prosperity of local communities can be effective.