Tourism in the Philippines: Applied Management Perspectives

This edited book serves as the first instalment of a two-part title that aims to provide an academic exploration of the contemporary issues and perspectives on tourism in the Philippines. With a strong geographical focus, this book is the first country-focused volume under the series, Perspectives on Asian Tourism. Comprised of chapters based on conceptual and empirical research, this book aims to develop a foundational and practical knowledge base on Philippine tourism management. The chapters cover a range of national, regional, and local tourism management issues that cut across the following themes: - Governance issues in Philippine tourism destinations- The Tourism Act of 2009 - Tourism impacts and sustainability- Innovative tourism development strategies- Tourism marketing campaigns (i.e., It’s More Fun in the Philippines!)- Philippine tourism and the ASEAN integration- Tourism and hospitality education in the PhilippinesThe contributions are drawn from the works of Filipino academics based in the Philippines and overseas institutions, and international academics researching tourism issues in the Philippines. The chapters are informed by a diverse set of disciplines including, but not limited to tourism studies, hospitality management, marketing, human resources management, public policy, environmental management, community development, and education.
This edited book is divided into four parts: first, an introduction to the development of policy and contemporary management issues in Philippine tourism; second, nature-based tourism and the natural environment; third, product development and branding; and fourth, accreditation and industry standards. The volume culminates with a synthesis of the progress of Philippine tourism development and management implications using the cases and experiences outlined in the chapters. This book serves as a systematic guide to the current state of tourism development and management in the Philippines, and as essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, educators, and, more importantly, tourism policy-makers.

Dr. Richard S. Aquino is a Lecturer of Tourism and Marketing at the UC Business School, University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, where he also obtained his master’s degree in international tourism management, and a Bachelor of Science in Tourism from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. His doctoral research focused on how the adoption of social entrepreneurship through tourism changes host communities in the Philippines. His other research interests include sustainable tourism planning and development, geotourism, tourist behaviour, and recently, the decolonization of tourism knowledge production. Currently, he serves as the research notes editor of Tourism in Marine Environments and an editor of the Austrian Journal of South-East Asian Studies. Apart from academic work, he has been actively involved in tourism planning consultancy projects in the Philippines and New Zealand.
Dr. Brooke A. Porter works in knowledge management as an instructional designer with international aid agencies. Brooke holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, a master’s in education from Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawai’i, and a bachelor of science in marine biology from the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida. Some of her current work investigates tourism as a development and conservation strategy as well as the role of gender. Her doctoral research explored marine tourism as a supplemental livelihood for fisheries-based communities in the Philippines. Brooke also serves as an Honorary Research Fellow at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, and as scientific adviser to The Coral Triangle Conservancy, an NGO in the Philippines.