Creating local sustainability indicators towards evidence-based policymaking for tourism in developing economies: Evidence from the Philippines

Sustainable development of tourism destinations is deemed a critical component of the global development agenda. Among developing economies whose tourism industries have remained a significant pillar of their economic growth, translating sustainability concepts and principles into policy remains a challenge. The incorporation of sustainability in public policies requires tourism development to generate positive impacts on the environment, economy, and society through the active involvement of stakeholders. At the core of this approach is the identification and use of indicators to evaluate the sustainability of destinations. This study primarily addresses concerns on the compatibility of existing indicators with local objectives and perceptions, with an aim of identifying local indicators that evaluate the sustainability of destinations in the Philippines. This study contributes to the existing development research through the identification of local sustainability indicators that are hinged on local understanding and perceptions of sustainability. A qualitative approach was employed to capture a holistic understanding of the multiple perspectives of stakeholders regarding sustainable tourism development. Results were determined through a focus group discussion with tourists and key informant interviews involving government authorities, tourism businesses, tourism industry practitioners, and academe.