Ignored Warnings: Ecological Collapse in Tourist Hubs

Authors

  • Shanelaima Bangahan School of Business Administration, Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University, Zamboanga City, 7000, Philippines Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64591/ezznq344

Keywords:

Sustainable Tourism, Ecological Collapse, Environmental Governance

Abstract

This essay highlights how unchecked tourism development in renowned Philippine destinations like Boracay and El Nido has led to water pollution, waste overflow, habitat loss, and community disruptions. Despite repeated scientific warnings, local economies prioritize short-term gains over ecological health. The paper calls for enforceable land-use plans, visitor limits, community-driven conservation, and environmental education to prevent irreversible collapse.

References

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Celina M. Reyes, Quimba, F. M. A., & Ortiz, M. K. P. (2018). The Boracay closure: Socioeconomic consequences and resilience management. Philippine Institute for Development Studies. Retrieved from https://pids.gov.ph/publications/5721

Cubos, Apple Shane. (2023). A Case Study of Environmental Violations in Boracay Island. SSRN Electronic Journal. 10.2139/ssrn.4656769.

Ong, L. T. J., Storey, D., & Minnery, J. (2011). Beyond the Beach: Balancing Environmental and Socio-cultural Sustainability in Boracay, the Philippines. Tourism Geographies, 13(4), 549–569. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2011.590517

Parris-Piper, Naomi & Dressler, Wolfram & Satizábal, Paula & Fletcher, Rob. (2023). A virtual paradise? Platform algorithms, coastal change, and the production of nature in the Philippines. Geoforum. 138. 103669. 10.1016/j.geoforum.2022.103669.

ignored warnings

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Published

06/13/2025

How to Cite

Ignored Warnings: Ecological Collapse in Tourist Hubs. (2025). SCI-TECH LENS, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.64591/ezznq344