ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF IBAJAY MANGROVE ECO-TOURISM PARK

Ricky B. Acanto

Abstract: The study sought to determine the ecological and economic importance of Ibajay Mangrove Eco-Tourism Park, the willingness to pay and the average amount the respondents are willing to pay for the entrance fee and conservation fee of the eco-tourism park. The study utilized the researcher-made questionnaire and purposive sampling technique. The respondents of the study were composed of one hundred sixty (160) visitors of the eco-tourism park, namely: businessmen, educators, industrial partners, Local Government Unit personnel, researcher, residents, students, and tourists (Local, National, international). Frequency count and percentage were used to analyze the data gathered; and computation of the average amount for the willingness to pay of the respondents. The result revealed that 95% of the respondents are aware of the ecological and economic importance of Ibajay Mangrove Eco-Tourism Park and only 5% are not aware of its importance. Maintaining the ecological balance of nature topped among the ecological importance with 95.6% followed by it served as foraging and living places for wildlife with 67.5%. For the economic importance, 74.4% of the respondents agreed that the eco-tourism park both brings financial incentives to the community and served as sightseeing route for eco-tours. Eighty point sixty-six (80.66%) percent of the respondents are willing to pay for the entrance fee and 95.6% are willing to pay for the conservation of the eco-tourism park. The respondents are willing to pay for an average of P 38. 75 per visit and are willing to pay for an average of P 116.88 per month for the conservation of the eco-tourism park. The average amount which is P 38.75 is higher than P 20.00, the present entrance fee of the eco-tourism park. Among the respondents, businessmen are willing to pay higher for an average of P 75.00 for the entrance fee and industrial partners are willing to pay as much as P 142.00 per month for the conservation fee.

Keywords: Awareness, Eco-Tourism, Economic Value, Mangroves, Willingness To Pay

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2016.0505044