Ecotourism in Negros Occidental, Philippines: Assessing Compliance, Sustainability, and Stakeholder Support

Authors

  • Paquito S. Ando III Tourism Department, Business Management and Accountancy Department, Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
  • Alexander J. Bautista Tourism Department, Business Management and Accountancy Department, Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
  • Maritoni S. Medalla Tourism Department, Business Management and Accountancy Department, Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
  • Evander P. Guiñez Tourism Department, Business Management and Accountancy Department, Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
  • Lyndon S. Dahino Tourism Department, Business Management and Accountancy Department, Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
  • Percie Jade L. Amino Tourism Department, Business Management and Accountancy Department, Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2026.403x

Keywords:

Compliance, Ecotourism, Ecotourism sites, Stakeholder support, Sustainability

Abstract

Ecotourism promotes environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and community development. However, the extent to which ecotourism sites comply with management standards, sustain responsible practices, and receive stakeholder support remains insufficiently documented in Negros Occidental, Philippines. This study determined the extent of compliance, level of sustainability, and level of stakeholder support of selected ecotourism sites in the province. It also examined whether these variables differed according to selected respondent and site profiles and whether significant relationships existed among them. A descriptive-correlational research design was employed with 154 respondents from ecotourism sites located in 13 cities of Negros Occidental. Data were collected using a validated and pilot-tested questionnaire and analyzed using frequency, percentage, ranking, Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis H, and Spearman’s rho. The sites were assessed as very compliant (M=4.33), very sustainable (M=4.31), and supported at a very high level (M=4.41). Compliance differed significantly according to age, stakeholder type, and educational attainment, but not according to years of operation or location. Sustainability differed significantly according to years of operation, stakeholder type, and educational attainment, but not according to age or location. Stakeholder support differed significantly according to educational attainment but not according to age, stakeholder type, years of operation, or location. Compliance was significantly related to sustainability (r=.642, p<.001) and stakeholder support (r=-.552, p<.001), whereas the relationship between sustainability and stakeholder support was not significant (r=.128, p=.114). The findings indicate that the sites demonstrate strong ecotourism performance, although formal sustainability planning, infrastructure development, waste management, and continued compliance monitoring require further strengthening.

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Published

2026-09-10

How to Cite

Ando III, P., Bautista, A., Medalla, M., Guiñez, E., Dahino, L., & Amino, P. J. (2026). Ecotourism in Negros Occidental, Philippines: Assessing Compliance, Sustainability, and Stakeholder Support. Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 4(10), 206–218. https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2026.403x

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 10 (2026): Volume 4 Issue 10

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Articles

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