Research experts of the Department of Environment of Natural Resources conducted a workshop on the carrying capacities of some tourist sites to tourism stakeholders in this famed tourist town of Mountain Province.
Linda Claire Pawid of DENR-CAR discussed the eco-tourism experiences within protected areas as a model for Sagada tourism.
Alicia Lustica head of the Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau (ERDB)-Coastal Resources and Eco-Tourism Research, Development and Extension Center and senior specialist Chona Tura discussed the topics on the Importance of carrying capacities in eco-tourism sites and How to assess the carrying capacities of eco-tourism sites, and the Carrying capacity concepts, Definitions, parameters and computations.
According to DENR Forester Cristopher Bosaing, the two resource persons were among those who helped in preparing and monitoring the rehabilitation plan of the famous Boracay Island.
Linda Claire Pawid of DENR-CAR discussed the eco-tourism experiences within protected areas as a model for Sagada tourism
The team as part of the activity visited and assessed the conditions of the “Marlboro” mountain where the famous sunrise viewing is held every morning by tourists, the hanging coffins, and the most frequented Lumiang burial cave and Sumaguing cave or the “big” cave.
Lustica lays down her recommendations which includes the following: That there must be one entrance and exit in every tourist site to prevent traffic jam especially during peak season, construction of comfort rooms with ample supply of water and shaded rest areas, planting of trees, shrubs and grasses in open areas to maintain the biodiversity, installation of more signage’s with brief stories of areas being visited or passed by and persons and offices and mobile phone numbers to contact in cases of emergencies, labeling of trees and shrubs for the information of visitors especially if these could be used as medicines, and conduct of orientation to tourists on the existing ordinances particularly in waste management, respect to culture, among others.
Alicia Lustica re-iterates the policy of one entry, one exit in tourist sites particularly when the pathway is narrow such as the pathway from the Sagada public cemetery down to hanging coffins. FBDEGAY
The participants and resource persons pose for a memento before they proceed to assess the major tourist destinations.