ethnographic paper sample only for ethnography.docx

paper.

1. Submitted by: Matilda B. Cada-o
Submitted to: Ruth S. Batani, PhD
Final Requirement for the Course SST221 (Ethnography)
EFFECTS OF TOURISM ACTIVITIES TO BARANGAY TACADANG IN
KIBUNGAN BENGUET
Theory/Conceptual Framing
In this study, I am interested in understanding the effects of tourism activities in
Tacadang, Kibungan Benguet. I lived there for three years and I really appreciate
how people preserve their culture and tradition. Naturally, the locals are very
hospitable to guests or strangers in their place. They will offer you aromatic
organic coffee in every household that you will visit.
According to Renhart (2024), Barangay Tacadang is located in the northwest
portion of Poblacion Kibungan and shares boundaries with Badeo at the
Southside, Palina at the north east, municipality of Bakun in the Northside and
the province of Ilocos Sur in the Westside. Tacadang is one barangay in the
Municipality of Kibungan and it has 18 sitios namely: Tacadang Proper,
Denummeg, Ogiyet, Bekes, Asob, Bana, Buwan, Lingey, Todag, Guingaw,
Bagew, Lopteng, Wallayan, Dalipey, Batangan, Les-eng, Coliang and Lanipew. It
is also the largest barangay because it has an area of 7, 235.21 hectares
constituting almost 28% of the total municipal land area.
Tacadang has five elementary schools and one Integrated School found at
Dalipey Tacadang. Children are sent to school while the parents mainly do farm
and sometimes porters to tourists. Before, there were only few tourists going
usually in the month of December to January. Because of the high mountains,

2. fresh air, wonderful sceneries and challenging hike, a lot of tourists were tempted
to visit the place. There were also terraces that can only be reached after a 6-
hour hike through lush pine forests. Even before, the Municipality of Kibungan
together with Kibungan Mountain Guides & Porters Organization, conducts the
“Kibungan Circuit and Kibungan cross-country” camping and invitational climbs.
The Kibungan Circuit is a shorter day hike to some peaks but eye-catching
sceneries in the area. However, for Kibungan cross country traverse, you needed
to hike for two or more days, starting from Poblacion Kibungan going to
Tacadang and exiting at Ilocos Sur. However, now that there is already a road
opening, there are a lot of tourists on any month that are going to the area
(especially in proper going to Batangan Tacadang) where the road ends. On the
internet, we can see a lot of stories, pictures, videos and vlogs of tourists who
went to Tacadang.
I chose the Doxey’s Irritation Model (Doxey,1975, as cited by tourism teacher,
2023) for me to understand the effects of tourism activities in the area. Since, my
interests are mainly on the reaction or effect of tourism to the locals so I
disregard the theories on the perspective of tourists. This model is composed of
four stages and it shows the changing reactions of local hosts as visitors
increase and tourism as an independent variable has a significant impact.
The first stage is the initial stage. The locals see tourism is important because it
offers potential economic opportunities. They are excited to see the growth
brought by gradual developments. They are hospitable and warm to guests. The
second is called the apathy or developmental stage. The locals incorporated

3. tourism activities in their life. On the contrary, the relationship between host and
visitors became detached. Even if the tourists are satisfied and locals develop,
their relationship became like a business only. Thirdly, it is called the irritation or
the saturation stage. As tourism rises, there are negative impacts such as
environmental degradation, commodification, crowding, traffic and many more. If
this is the case, the locals will feel more frustrated and annoyed. In here we can
deduce that as locals benefit from tourism, they also suffer the negative results,
therefore they will have negative perceptions about tourism. The last is called the
antagonism or the decline stage. This is the pitfall since; locals will see tourists
as burden to their community. Moreover, they might not pursue tourism
development instead they will try to deduct tourism activities and protest future
developments.
In the Doxey model it highlights the relationship between the host communities
and tourists, wherein in it was explained that it is not static because it evolves
overtime. When tourism rises it also has huge negative effects to local
communities. If this is the case it can lead to deterioration in local attitudes,
especially if it outweighs the benefits of tourism. It also points out the way we
manage tourism activities. We need to be more careful in planning so that we will
not reach the antagonism stage. To have a healthy relationship between tourists
and locals, responsible and sustainable tourism are the key strategy in
overcoming the negative impacts of tourism.
We cannot say that all hosts communities’ experiences all these stages because
it depends on how they manage these tourism activities and the treatment of

4. tourists to their host destinations as well. However, this is a perfect guide for me
to understand local attitudes towards tourism.
Another model that explains thoroughly the impacts of mass tourism on
destinations is the (TALC) Butler’s Tourism Area Life Cycle (Butler,1980).
According to this model, it has six stages. Thus, this begins in the exploration
stage where few adventurous tourists visit the host community. The hosts may
not feel any discomfort but a hospitable attitude. Locals may give basic services
to tourists. Later on, developments in the area begin to accommodate the
tourists. This will lead to the next stage called the consolidation. As it becomes a
dominant industry it needs careful planning and management to be discussed
between locals and government. The next is stagnation stage where the area
becomes overdeveloped and overcrowded it will lead to decline of visitor
satisfaction. Last is the decline or rejuvenation stage where they invent more to
attract new visitors. In this stage it depends if the locals will decide to improve or
to close or deduce tourism activities.
This model is also useful in understanding the long-term effects of mass tourism,
including environmental, economic and social impacts.

Community’s
understanding
Effects/Consequences for
Tacadang Settlers:
a. Economic well-being
b. Cultural Identity
c. Social Cohesion
d. Environmental quality
Tourism
Activities

5. Figure 1. The schematic diagram showing the key concepts of the study.
In Figure 1. We see can see the outline of the main concepts in analyzing the
consequences of tourism activities to barangay Tacadang. As the tourist arrives
in the host community, the local settlers already have their own perceptions
about tourism and how it will benefit them. In the diagram we can see the
relationship of these concepts by an arrow. Along with the relationship of tourism
and the Tacadang community, there are also negative consequences and
positive outcomes. These consequences may also affect the community’s
understanding of tourism. Therefore, I used a two-way arrow to show the
reciprocal relationship of the concepts. As we mentioned earlier Tacadang is an
isolated place before due to its geographical location, and only when there was a
road opening in 2021 that tourism rises. The way tourists deal with the host
community is a factor on how the locals perceive tourism in their place. If the
tourists follow the municipal and barangay guidelines as a responsible tourist,
there will be no doubt that the locals will be on the neutral stage. As we can see,
there are positive effects such as; economic benefits, it can be on livelihood
development, tourist guides, porters, donation drive or charity programs done to
the place. However, if the tourists are hostile, have no cultural sensitivity,
exploitative and if the negative impacts outweigh the benefits, then I guess it will
lead to the decline stage.
INTRODUCTION

6. According to Lickrosh and Jenkins (1997), tourism is attractive and is
increasingly being adopted by developing countries. There are notable reasons
as to why people travel beyond their own comfort zones. One reason is that
tourism include its status as a historically growing sector, characterized by
consistent growth trends. Another reason is that a developing country can earn
hard currency, they do not need to pay tariff or quota. For countries with natural
infrastructures, they took advantage from the benefits of tourism and they can
impose their local standards.
Tourism has emerged as a significant economic and cultural force in many
regions worldwide, providing opportunities for economic growth, cultural
exchange, and community development. Specifically, tourism activities involving
local indigenous communities have increased their potential to offer visitors
authentic cultural experiences while simultaneously promoting the preservation of
traditional knowledge and practices. On the contrary, this intersection of tourism
and local livelihoods also raises critical questions or issues arising about
sustainability, cultural representation, and community empowerment. Moreover,
issues such as commodification, unequal power relations, and the exploitation of
natural and cultural resource pose significant challenges as well.
It is known to us that indigenous communities are agents of unique cultural
heritage and custodians or guardians of biodiverse landscapes, making them
attractive destinations for tourists seeking genuine and meaningful experiences.
Varied activities such as guided tours, hiking, cultural performances, craft
workshops, and storytelling sessions provide avenues for tourists to engage with

7. indigenous traditions. These activities not only generate income but also foster
cross-cultural understanding and respect.
Tacadang is a geographically isolated barangay in the municipality of Kibungan.
It is known for its breathtaking landscapes, indigenous culture, and traditional
practices. In recent years, tourism has emerged as a growing activity in the area,
bringing both opportunities and challenges. However, it raises critical questions
such as; are the effects perceived as beneficial or do they lead to unintended
consequences that threaten the community’s way of life?
The purpose of this paper is to understand the consequences of tourism to the
local community in Tacadang. Specifically, the study sought to answer the
following questions:
1.What are the developments in tourism to barangay Tacadang?
2.What are the informants’ understanding of tourism in their area?
3.What are the positive effects of tourism in barangay Tacadang?
4.What are the negative effects of tourism in barangay Tacadang?
By examining these through an interview, the study aims to contribute to a
deeper understanding of how remote communities handle the complexities of
tourism.
This paper explores the role of tourism activities in local communities, analyzing
the effects to their socio-economic, cultural, and environmental impacts. It aims
to highlight both the opportunities and challenges presented by tourism. It also
aims to emphasize the importance of community-centered approaches to
promote sustainability and cultural integrity. By grounding this discussion in

8. ethnography, this study seeks to contribute to a common understanding of the
interactions between tourism and locals offering insights for stakeholders
involved in fostering ethical and mutually beneficial tourism practices.
This paper focuses on the critical aspects to economic benefits, environmental
sustainability, commodification and cultural preservation. As mentioned earlier,
tourism can be an avenue for economic growth for communities. From one of my
respondents, he said that tourism helps them generate income by hauling
materials going to the place or luggage from visitors. They will wait for these to
be delivered at the end of the road and haul it going to the destination. In their
place, there is no mass production of garden vegetable since if they will plant and
deliver their crop to the center of the municipality, it takes hours before they will
reach that place. The crops will wilt and customers may not like to buy it due to
its outside look, considering that it is very far and needs hiking and riding a car.
Most of them do farming while others do cattle, buffalo, goat and pig raising,
planting crops, and fishing for those near the rivers and streams. To sum it up, it
is not suitable for them to do gardening since their expense will be greater than
their profit. If they plant vegetables, it is only for their own consumption or
sometimes they sell to the teachers in the school. He also said that they also
accompany and guide tourists if they need them. It is really far so we need to
travel by foot and for others who do camping, it is surrounded by mighty
mountains, solid rocks, cliffs and routes are dangerous for first time hikers so a
tourist guide is a must when visiting Tacadang. As a tourist guide, they also tell
stories and share their experiences in the mountains to them, they are also

9. happy when communicating with the guests. They also have the TOCGA
(Tacadang Organic Coffee Growers Association) where they promote their
aromatic and organic coffee along with the “muscovado” (refined sugar made
from sugarcane). They sell handicrafts made from bamboo strips such as
baskets, bags, “liga-o”/bilao in Filipino term, and some make soft brooms. Either
they sell it to visitors who go to their place or they carry by foot then sell it to
town. From my respondents, they said that tourism changes their way of life in
some instances. Before, if there are new people coming in their place, they treat
them very well because they value other people regardless of their position. They
help others voluntarily and not expecting something in return. One problem that
they encountered was the garbage scattered along the way and sometimes when
tourist pass to the rice fields especially if it is developing stage of rice, they do not
know how to pass carefully. He mentioned that tourist must follow the municipal
and barangay guidelines in visiting Tacadang.
On the other hand, one of the negative impact is sacrificing nature for
development. One example from the study of Apnoyan (2022) where one of the
traditional burial cave site in Mt. Sto Tomas was used to develop a private resort
by a lawyer sacrificing 700 trees saplings and seedlings. Because of this, it
resulted in the silting of the sources of potable water found in the area. Moreover,
Anastacio and Brillo (2017) stated on their study on the lake of Tiaong, Quezon
that the tourism development of the lake can help in economic growth and
encourage community empowerment. On the contrary, local tourism also pose
threat to environmental condition, particularly through the generation of solid and

10. liquid wastes. According to Cruz (2017), ecotourism will not automatically
produce positive results because it can lead to environmental degradation, like
the caves and lagoons. Unmanaged tourism can lead to environmental
degradation, including deforestation, pollution, and the disruption of local wildlife.
This highlights the need for robust environmental management practices that
involve indigenous communities as key stakeholders in decision-making
processes.
To conclude, tourism offers significant opportunities for local communities to
share their cultural heritage, generate income and promote environmental
stewardship. However, it also poses challenges related to cultural
commodification, unequal economic benefits and environmental pressures.
Addressing these issues requires a balanced approach that prioritizes the voices
of local settlers, emphasizes sustainable practices, and respects the cultural and
ecological integrity of these communities. Through community-centered and
ethically grounded tourism initiatives, it is possible to foster mutually beneficial
relationships between host communities and visitors.
References:
Anastacio, N. C. & Brillo, B.C. (2017). Ecotourism Development Opportunities of
a Small lake: Looking at the Case of Tikub Lake in Tiaong, Quezon.
Apnoyan, M. T. (2022). Understanding the Consequences of Tourism on the
Traditional Burial Caves in Mt. Sto.Tomas, Tuba, Benguet. pp.28
Butler, R.W. (1980). The concept of a tourist area cycles of evolution:
Implications for management of resources. The Canadian Geographer, 24, pp.5-
12. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0064.1980.tb00970.x
Cruz, R.G. 2017. Ecotourism. Rex Book Store, Inc. pp.3

11. Lickrosh, L. and C. Jenkins. 1997. An Introduction to Tourism. Reed Educational
and Professional Publishing Ltd.
Renhart.(2024).Bayan ng Kibungan. Retrieved from
(https://www.scribd.com/doc/188095074/KIBUNGAN-BENGUET)
Tourism Teacher. (2023, January). Doxeys Irritation Index and How does it work.
Retrieved from https://tourismteacher.com/doxeys-irritation-index/