Value of Tourism
Attributes
Medium: Animals, Plants and/or Others
Country: Philippines
Analytical Framework(s): Economic Analysis
Study Date: 2009
Publication Date: 2013
Major Result(s)
| Resource/Environmental Good | PHP (2009) |
PHP (2014)1 |
USD (2014)2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| present value of tourism income3 | 622,353,000.00 | 749,014,282.56 | 16,746,880.59 |
| cost of carbon emission (USD 5/tC) | 1,627,230.00 | 1,958,403.85 | 43,787.09 |
| cost of carbon emission (USD 10/tC) | 3,254,460.00 | 3,916,807.70 | 87,574.18 |
| cost of carbon emission (USD 20/tC) | 6,508,930.00 | 7,833,627.43 | 175,148.63 |
About the Inflation Adjustment: Prices in Philippines (PHP) changed by 20.35% from 2009 to 2014 (aggregated from annual CPI data), so the study values were multiplied by 1.20 to express them in 2014 prices. The study values could be expressed in any desired year (for example, to 2025) by following the same inflation calculation and being sensitive to directional (forward/backward) aggregations using your own CPI/inflation data.
Study Note: This study allows for observing the effects of wildfire on natural processes in fire-adapted ecosystems. It also provides an opportunity to understand better the ecological dynamics in the management regimes of the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, Philippines.
Study Details
Summary: The study developed a carbon offset project based on scientific information and subjected the project to an economic analysis. The carbon offset project could be an alternative to the occasional burning of the Chocolate Hills for consideration by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument (CHNM) in Bohol, Philippines. Comparing the hills with different cover, results showed that carbon density of hills with 100% trees did not differ much from that of hills with 20% trees. Carbon density of hills with 100% trees was 74.34 t/ha and 68.32 t/ha for hills with 20% trees. Comparison of the present values of the income from tourism and the cost of carbon dioxide emissions from burning shows that at different price levels of carbon emissions, the present value of tourism income was found to be very much higher than the cost of carbon emission due to burning. This result suggests that a carbon offset plantation project to make the CHNM operation carbon neutral could be financed from its tourism revenue.
Site Characteristics: The Chocolate Hills Natural Monument (CHNM) has always been a favorite destination of tourists in the island province of Bohol. The hills are spread in the middle of the island in six municipalities, namely: Carmen, Sagbayan, Batuan, Bilar, Valencia, and Sierra Bullones. But a magnificent view can be seen from the view deck of the Chocolate Hills Complex (CHC) in the municipality of Carmen. The complex of 1,776 hills, which are technically called kegelkarst or cone karst, represent one of the world's premier cone karst environments.
Comments: The biophysical situation, carbon stocks, and socio-economic status of the hills complex were assessed. Secondary data such as records on land ownership and property rights were analyzed. Baseline information including maps, reports, and other statistics about the Chocolate Hills were gathered from the Chocolate Hills Complex, local government units (LGU), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other relevant agencies and institutions that implement programs focusing on the Chocolate Hills.