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Benefits and Issues in Tourism

The Case of Ifugao Rice Terraces
About Ifugao
Ifugao is one (1) of the six (6) provinces of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), situated in the
Philippines’ North Central Luzon. It is a landlocked watershed province bounded by a mountain range to the
north and west that tempers into surging hills towards the south and the east. The province is well-known for
its rice terraces, which are found in the nine (9) upland municipalities.
The people of the province call themselves Ipugo, meaning “from the earth”. The Spaniards changed the name
to “Ifugaw” and the Americans revised it to “Ifugao”.
Tourism Resources
As the main attraction in Ifugao Province, the Banaue rice terraces are being promoted by the Department of
Tourism as one (1) of the seven (7) banner tourism sites in the Philippines.
The rice terraces are not only confined within Banaue but are spread over nine (9) of the 11 municipalities in
the province. Five (5) rice terrace clusters are located in four (4) municipalities of Ifugao. These terrace clusters
include the Bangaan and Batad terrace clusters in Banaue, the Nagacadan cluster in Kiangan, the Hungduan
cluster, and the central Mayoyao cluster.
Aside from the rice terraces, Ifugao province abounds with a wide variety of natural resources catering to
adventure tourism. Majestic mountains, winding rivers, cascading waterfalls, breathtaking caves, and hot
springs are available for tourist activities such as mountain trekking, camping, spelunking, and white water
rafting. The province also offers 14 major annual cultural festivals in which tourists can participate. These
festivals are not only intended for tourists but are also aimed at reviving and revitalizing the cultural heritage
of the Ifugaos.
Tourism Impacts and Issues
Impacts on the Physical Environment
Tourism attracts people into an area of exceptional history, beauty and grandeur. Hence, it means an inflow
of people that includes tourists, investors/entrepreneurs, artisans, and job seekers. As a result, there is
increased congestion as more residential and commercial establishments are built. An area limited in size then
struggles to support the ever-increasing number of people. With increased population and infrastructure, a
settlement once pristine and fresh starts to become degraded. Aside from increased visitor numbers, tourism
leads to development projects imposing upon the area. Improperly-built infrastructure affects land stability
and impacts on water resources. Unplanned construction pollutes and destroys food and water sources,
ultimately degrading the livability of the community. Rivers once teeming with fish are transformed into
sewage dumpsites. The crisp, clean air becomes polluted with harmful gases discharged by transport vehicles
and industries. The once serene environment starts to be overwhelmed with traffic noise and raucous
entertainment.
Banaue, the first tourist destination area to be developed in Ifugao, also manifests the negative impact of
tourism on both its cultural and environmental setting. From a pristine valley of rice terraces, healthy muyongs
(forests) and clustered settlements bisected by a clean river, Banaue has been transformed into an
unattractive town blighted by spontaneous and uncontrolled development. Structures have been built
randomly everywhere. Large areas of muyong have been destroyed, causing erosion, and the river has been
polluted with industrial and household waste. Modern music blares from most houses and the noise and
pollution from vehicles has made the place less livable.

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In a workshop attended by various stakeholders, tourism was singled out as the main reason for the
degradation of Banaue’s physical environment. Construction of inappropriate structures remains unchecked,
due to lack of or non-implementation of zoning regulations, and fear of electoral reprisal from those who have
become rich and powerful from the tourism industry. The uncontrolled development has significantly
degraded the attractiveness of the cultural landscape.
The watersheds that supply water to the rice fields are also being degraded by increased demand from the
tourism industry for carved wooden souvenirs. The high demand for wood has accelerated deforestation not
only in Banaue but also other municipalities like Hungduan, Kiangan, and Lamut. With the depletion of the
watersheds, less water reaches the rice terraces, causing erosion in rice fields that can no longer be supplied
with water. In turn, increased erosion and siltation pollutes the rivers, which is compounded by the lack of
proper sewage systems in Banaue and other communities.
The lack or non-implementation of zoning and construction regulations has resulted in the erection of
buildings not complementary to the unique beauty, style, and grandeur of the tourism area. The gaudy-looking
buildings destroy the scenery and give it a run-down appearance. The disorganized mixture of ethnic-inspired
residences in concrete and galvanized iron sheets with pseudo-American structures cheapen the pleasant
setting of the native Ifugao huts.
On 18 February 1994 under the Executive Order (EO) No. 158 of then President Fidel Ramos, the first special
body tasked to manage the Ifugao Rice Terraces (IRT) was created. The Ifugao Terraces Commission (ITC) was
responsible for advising the President on matters pertaining to the IRT. The ITC formulated two (2)
conservation Master Plans – a three-year plan and a six-year plan – which were approved by President Ramos
on 2 September 1995, exactly three (3) months before the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras were
inscribed on the World Heritage List.
The only non-government organization in the Philippines that is focusing its energies to safeguard the culture
that nurtures the IRT is the Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement (SITMo). It was established in 2001 as a
federation of individuals and local civil society groups that share the same vision for the Ifugaos. In recent
years, the organization worked as an initiator and coordinator of actions that complement local government’s
programs on sustainable development. SITMo’s initiatives cover ecotourism, the rejuvenation of indigenous
knowledge systems and practices (IKSP), renewable energy and the enhancement of indigenous rice
production.
On farming, SITMo’s efforts are geared towards increasing rice production by enhancing indigenous
agricultural practices with sustainable farming technologies from other places. Under its renewable energy
program, SITMo is providing micro-hydro dams that enable remote villages in Hungduan and Kiangan to
generate cheap and affordable electricity from their rivers. The low-impact and environmentally-friendly
generators have uplifted the quality of life for the villagers, providing them with an incentive to stay and
nurture their rice fields instead of migrating to places where such services are available. To encourage the
development of pro-poor, community-led tourism industry in Ifugao, SITMo has initiated programs and
activities in heritage sites utilizing readily-available indigenous knowledge and oral traditions to attract visitors.
On land management, SITMo had facilitated the finalization of land use plans in the Nagacadan cluster which
is part of the World Heritage site. As a result, zoning regulations have defined site development areas that
have been hosting tourism activities.
Socio-Cultural Impacts
The tourism industry is a very potent agent of change in the lifestyle of the host communities. As tourists come
from diverse cultural backgrounds, they bring with them their socio-cultural traits, which are different from
those of the host communities. Thus, interaction between different cultures can result in either positive or

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negative socio-cultural impacts. Other factors that impact on ethnic communities are formal education and
religion that have been introduced from outside.
For instance, stakeholders have differing views on whether commercialization of cultural songs, dances, and
rituals is positive or negative. For some stakeholders, the commercialization of culture is beneficial as it
provides economic benefits to the cultural performers. Moreover, staged cultural performances are
instrumental in reviving cultural practices that are about to become extinct and helping to educate tourists
about the local culture. Other stakeholders argue that staged cultural performances misrepresent and damage
the local culture. Some rituals that are considered sacred by the elders are being inappropriately performed
to cater to the demands of tourism.
More important than the revival of the Ifugao cultural practices is the transfer of cultural knowledge and skills
to younger generations. Elderly members of local communities, the indigenous knowledge holders, have
formed cultural performing groups among the young people to perform for tourists, and in the process,
indigenous knowledge is transmitted to the younger generations. Furthermore, elderly Ifugaos are passing on
their traditional skills of wood carving, loom weaving and the production of local crafts to capitalize on the
growing market for ethnic products and souvenir items. These skills would have become extinct, if not for the
entry of tourists into Ifugao.
On the other hand, to attract more tourists and generate additional income, cultural performances including
sacred rituals are increasingly performed to satisfy the need for ‘‘authentic’’ experiences by tourists. Although
entertaining visitors with cultural performances and rituals is not entirely bad, some performances are
presented out of context. For staged cultural performances of ethnic songs and dances, themes are often
changed and abridged to suit tourists’ expectations, thereby conveying a false message to visitors. In effect,
cultural performances are losing their authenticity. Moreover, cultural performances are staged even when
there are no appropriate occasions to justify their performances. Agricultural rituals, for instance, are staged
at the wrong times of the year, just for tourist consumption. Even though local villagers are aware of this
cultural travesty, they are encouraged to perform because of the financial incentives offered to them by
tourists, tour operators, and even academic researchers.
The loss of valuable artifacts, ancestral heirlooms, and other movable tangible cultural heritage has also been
observed. From the onset of outsiders’ arrival in Ifugao in the early 1700’s up to its boom in the later 1900’s,
rampant buying and selling of ritual paraphernalia, icons and priceless heirlooms took place in Banaue and
other municipalities. Aged rice wine jars (buhi), rice granary gods (bulul), glass and plastic beads (pango), gold
pendants (linglingo), gold and brass earrings, brass armlets and leglets (padang) that were handed down
through many generations were sold not only to tourists but also to private and public collectors, curators,
and museums. This loss has impacted on the deterioration of the Ifugao culture. With the loss of a significant
part of the movable tangible cultural heritage of Ifugao, younger generations are no longer able to appreciate
and learn from this important aspect of their heritage.
Moreover, the mass production of wood carvings that used to have cultural significance among the local folk
has also been commodified. Perceived as profitable merchandise for trade, wood carvings are massively
produced and sold as souvenir items to tourists and for the export market. The bulul (religious icon), for
example, which was considered sacred for many generations, have been reproduced to satisfy the demands
of tourism. More often than not, reproductions of the bulul are done in bad taste. This commodification of
cultural goods has degraded the cultural and religious significance of the bulul, an important aspect of Ifugao
culture.
Another thing is the influx of tourists in the small and traditional villages of Banaue, particularly in Batad, has
started to irritate local residents. Local folk feels that their private lives are being invaded, particularly when
tourists take their photograph without consent. In some cases, their photographs are used commercially, on

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postcards for example, or posted on the internet without their knowledge. As such, villagers suspect tourists
of making a profit out of their photos, which they resent very much.

Economic Impacts
The tourism industry brings both positive economic benefits as well as negative impacts to host communities.
With the minimal tourism receipts in the province, the bulk of tourism expenditure was in Banaue, which is
the most visited destination. Banaue is a small town that has a lot of tourism facilities. Hence, it is an area
where tourist expenditures are concentrated. Banaue gets the most economic benefit from tourism in the
province, both in terms of net tourism receipts and per capita expenditure.
Although Ifugao still accounts for a marginal share of tourist receipts compared to more accessible parts of
the Philippine, tourism is still a significant contributor to the provincial economy.
Over the years, tourism has continuously generated employment in the province, particularly in Banaue. Jobs
range from tour guiding and providing local transport services, to hospitality, catering and selling souvenirs.
These are among the primary (direct) jobs created by the industry, however, their job is seasonal. The
secondary (indirect) jobs generated by the industry include wood carving, loom weaving and handicrafts
making. Locally-produced wood carved products are now being exported to other countries. Other economic
activities spurred by tourism include the commercial production of rice wine, which was traditionally produced
on a limited scale, mainly for rituals, festivities, and local consumption. Homestay programs are emerging in
some villages.
However, local farmers who are maintaining the rice terraces do not derive any economic benefit from the
tourism industry. The farmers are mainly engaged in traditional rice production, with minimal yields that are
not even adequate to sustain their families until the next cropping season. Because their direct involvement
with tourists is very limited, they generally do not provide guide services, handicrafts or homestay
accommodation. Even agricultural products like locally-grown vegetables are mostly for local consumption;
most of the produce supplied to local restaurants comes from outside the province. This issue has repeatedly
been discussed. The challenge, therefore, is to develop a strategy that will allow farmers to be directly involved
in tourism development initiatives and share in the economic gains from the industry.
In Banaue, local residents also make use of the infrastructure purposely built to support the tourism industry.
Tourist infrastructure, particularly improved transportation facilities and services, has enhanced the living
standards of the local communities. The accommodation facilities, restaurants, and facilities for meetings and
conventions intended for tourists are also being used by the locals.
On the contrary, locals identify the problem of increased prices of goods and services in tourist destination
areas. Residents also pointed out that there has been a shift from traditional economic activities like
agriculture to tourism-oriented activities. People who are now service providers to tourists no longer work in
the rice fields, which, to some extent, led to the abandonment of some rice fields. Furthermore, the increased
opportunities in the tourism industry have encouraged farm owners to convert their farm lots to commercial
purposes. In turn, land conversion has caused land disputes among residents.

Lifted and modified from: United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2008). IMPACT:
The Effects of Tourism on Culture and the Environment in Asia and the Pacific: Sustainable Tourism and the Preservation
of the World Heritage Site of the Ifugao Rice Terraces, Philippines [PDF]. Retrieved from
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001826/182647e.pdf on 08 March 2018

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