The challenge
Among other aims, the Philippine development plan for 2017 to 2022 focuses on creating new jobs in the tourism sector to fight poverty and achieve prosperity for as many people as possible. Mass tourism such as in Boracay, one of the most visited holiday resorts in the archipelago, is not a model for this. In the future, the country wants to put more emphasis on sustainable tourism that focuses on the preservation of traditions, cultural heritage and nature and establishes environmental and social standards. This should help to improve climate and environmental protection in the island state and offer previously disadvantaged indigenous population groups an economic prospect. For Reisen mit Sinnen, which offers sustainable travel, the establishment of corresponding offers beyond the regions developed for mass tourism is economically indispensable in order to be able to position itself with its own profile in the long term. This is where the develoPPP programme comes in, because cooperation with ethnic groups requires a lot of time and preparation to qualify people accordingly and to be able to develop marketable products.
Project approach
The aim of the project, which had a budget totalling 350,000 euros, was to initiate tourism offers in selected communities in less developed regions. To this end, the project partners implemented the following measures, among others, on the island groups of Luzon and Visayas and in the province of Palawan between 2017 and 2019:
- Four ethnic communities were selected for training programmes on tourism at the community level.
- Community members received training on first aid, food safety, hygiene and sanitation, as well as other topics, as a prerequisite for setting up transport and hospitality businesses.
- Basic infrastructure was created for sustainable tourism in the communities.
Reisen mit Sinnen managed the project together with Travel Authentic Philippines (TAP), long-time local partner and expert on the ground, both contributing their expertise in establishing sustainable tourism. In addition to providing financial support, DEG structured the project together with the partners in the preliminary stages.
Working closely with the local ethnic communities, we have managed to develop a tourism offer that meets ecological, economic and social aspects and adds some very special and attractive destinations to our offer.
Results
The project supported the selected ethnic communities to protect their natural and cultural heritage while developing a tourism offer that improves their income and creates economic prospects. In addition to those who directly received a qualification or were able to set up their own business, numerous other family members in the communities benefited from the improved overall economic situation.
In close cooperation with the ethnic communities, the company succeeded in developing new offers for environmentally and socially responsible tourism, and was thus able to expand its own programme to include attractive destinations.
- 4 ethnic communities qualified
- 357 community members directly trained
- 3,600 community members benefited indirectly
- 18 transport and hospitality businesses established
develoPPP Classic
develoPPP Classic is aimed at medium-sized and large companies that want to invest sustainably in a developing or emerging country and expand their operational activities locally. Suitable projects receive technical and financial support of up to two million euros in public funding.
Project partners
