Cultural Festivals as Catalysts for Community-Based Tourism Development

Abstract Cultural festivals serve as significant platforms for preserving local traditions, strengthening community identity, and promoting tourism development. This study assessed the effectiveness of cultural festivals as catalysts for community-based tourism development in the Province of Leyte, Eastern Visayas, Philippines. Specifically, it determined the respondents’ profile, assessed the level of effectiveness of cultural festivals in terms of community participation, economic impact, cultural preservation and identity, and social and environmental sustainability, identified challenges encountered during festival implementation, and developed a proposed community-based tourism development model. The study employed a quantitative descriptive-correlational research design. Data were gathered from eighty (80) respondents composed of forty (40) tourism officers and forty (40) event organizers from eight municipalities in the Second District of Leyte. A researcher-made survey questionnaire was used as the main instrument. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, weighted mean, ranking, and Chi-square test of independence. Results revealed that cultural festivals were highly effective in promoting community participation, generating economic opportunities, preserving cultural heritage and identity, and supporting social and environmental sustainability. The findings showed that collaboration among community groups contributed significantly to festival success. However, challenges such as limited funding, waste management concerns, poor weather conditions, insufficient promotion, traffic congestion, and coordination issues were identified. Significant relationships were also observed between selected respondent characteristics and perceived festival effectiveness. The study concluded that cultural festivals contribute substantially to sustainable community-based tourism by empowering local stakeholders, promoting cultural preservation, and supporting economic development. A community-based tourism development model is recommended to strengthen partnerships, improve festival management, and ensure long-term sustainability. Keywords: Cultural festivals, community-based tourism, tourism development, community participation, cultural preservation