A Brief History of Tourism and Ecotourism Development in the Philippines

The Department of Tourism (DOT) was established as the primary government agency responsible for promoting and developing tourism in the Philippines. The 1987 Philippine Constitution mandated the protection of a balanced and healthy ecology, laying the groundwork for sustainable tourism practices. The Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC) served as DOT's marketing arm.

Foreign tourist arrivals saw a resurgence in 1989 but were temporarily impacted by the 1991 electricity crisis and a coup d'état. In response, the 20-year Philippine Tourism Master Plan (TMP) was formulated in 1991 to guide tourism development, with Proclamation 188 mobilizing government and private sector support for its implementation.

Following the 1992 Earth Summit, the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) was created to address global environmental agendas. This period saw an increase in foreign tourist arrivals until the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. In 1998, DOT and DENR jointly issued MC 98-02, formally defining ecotourism in the Philippine context as a low-impact, environmentally sound, and community-participatory activity focused on conservation, education, and socioeconomic benefits.

The period between 1992 and 1998 fostered the integration of ecotourism into the national sustainable tourism framework. This culminated in Executive Order 111 in 1999, which established guidelines for ecotourism development. The 1999 National Ecotourism Congress further formulated structured national policies and strategic guidelines, emphasizing ecotourism as a tool for sustainable development, environmental protection, and cultural heritage conservation.