The Tourist Attractions

A Swot Analysis of Regional Tourist Destinations

Because of the diversity of cultural and political scenarios in the

Philippines , it is essential to first determine the value of each place in the
terms of attractiveness, safety, and accessibility before choosing to visit it
or to develop it as a tourist destination.

A useful tool in the sort of study is the SWOT (Strengths,

Weakness, Opportunities,Threats) Analysis, Which helps determine not
only the desirability of an area as tourist spot but also its marketability
and potential. Following is a destination of the elements of a SWOT
analysis.

Strengths
Strength, in tourism refers to the qualities of a region that make it
ideal as tourist destination. This would be measured in terms of the
number of high-value attractions (like white-sand beaches or old edifices)
in the area, as well as the overall comfort and safety the place can offer to
the tourist. This would involve factors such as accessibility, sanitation,
the presence of tourist facilities, and even ideal climate.

Weakness
Any condition in an area that is detrimental to the pleasure and
comfort of the tourist is considered a weakness. The most common are
difficult accessibility, uncomfortable climatic conditions, and the lack or
absence of tourist facilities.

Opportunities
This refers to either the qualities or assets of a region that can be
develop to improve its desirability as a tourist destination, or projects
that are being planned or implemented to improve the conditions in the
area .Examples are the establishment of an airport, a power plant, or a cell
site and the improvement of roads and other facilities.

Threats
These are events or circumtances in an area that may negatively
impact anyone staying there for any amount of time.In other words,
anything that has the potential to inflict damage or jeopardize the safety
of an individual is considered threat. This includes health hazard such as
a high level of pollution or pronounced climate changes, natural perils
such as the presence of fault lines or of active volcanoes, and man made
threats such as the highly volatile political or social condition.

A sample SWOT analysis of each region in the Philippines is

shown in Table 7. This analysis, However, is not comprehensive and
should not be used as a reference for any serious study, It is merely
presented here to demonstrate how a SWOT analysis should be
formulated.

Table 7. Sample entries for SWOT analysis of each region in the

Philippines.

National Capital Region

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
Has Has a severe Modern High level of
international traffic problem. infrastructure are the pollution.
airports, and is being built to
considered the address the traffic Poor sanitation,
primary problem. which may
gateway. cause highly,
infectious
Has the most diseases like
number of dengue,cholera
tourist and hepatitis.
facilities and
service in the High crime
country. rate.
Region I
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

Has numerous Located a great The Pagudpud- The region is

cultural,natural, distance from Bangui area in earthquake
and historical the National Ilocos Norte is prone.
attractions. Capital Region. being considered
for development as High level of
Has generally tourist site. saltwater
good roads that instrusion in
provide access All the provinces many parts of
to major cities in the region are coastal zone,
and destinations part of the North particularly in
within the Quad Growth Ilocos Norte.
region. Area.

Cordillera Administrative Region

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
Has numerous Many parts of Roads connecting The region is
high-qualitry the region are to other regions prone to
natural and difficult to are being earthquake and
cultural access. improved or landslides.
attractions. built,hopefully
resulting in greater
Ideal for high- accessibility.
profile activities
like hiking and
white-water
rafting.
Region II
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPOTUNITIES THREATS
Has numerous Located a great A free-port zone Large parts of
high-quality distance from is being develop the region serve
natural and the NCR. Many in as impact areas
cultural parts of the Cagayan. for incoming
attractions. region are typhoons.
difficult to Large pods of
Ideal for high- access. humpback
profile activities whales are
like white-water spotted near
rafting and Fuga and
spelunking. Camiguin
Islands.

Region III
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPOTUNITIES THREATS
Proximity to the Located a great A free-port zone Large parts of
National Capital distance from is being the region serve
Region.
the NCR. Many developed in as impact areas
parts of the Cagayan. for incoming
The presence of region are typhoons.
Clark Field difficult to
International
Airport. access.

Region IV
 STRENGTHS WEAKNESS OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
Traffic
Proximity to the Major national The presence of
problems
National Capital in highways and a number of
Region. many networks are being active
developing improved. volcanoes.
Has numerous areas.
well-known
attractions Many areas are
already
industrialized.

Region V
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPOTUNITIES THREATS
Has numerous Many roads and The Quirino The presence of
natural and highways are Highway, which a number of
cultural poor in was built a few active
attractions. condition. years ago, has volcanoes.
shortended the
time travel from
manila to
Camarines Sur
by almost two
hours.

Region VI
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPOTUNITIES THREATS
Has number of Travel from Boracay is Enviromental
outstanding Luzon to the constantly being impacts of
natural region is improved to tourism in
attractions, expensive. maintain its Boracay.
including status as a top
Boracay Island. tourist
destination.

Region VII
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPOTUNITIES THREATS
Has number of Travel from A ferry fast The continuing
historical Luzon and system is being depletion of
cultural, and Mindanao to the developed to water resources
natural region is improve the in Cebu.
attractions. expensive. accessibility of
different parts of
the region.

Region VIII
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPOTUNITIES THREATS
Has numerous There is only These are several Many parts of
outstanding one major potential power the region are
natural and airport in the sources that can frequented by
historical entire region be tapped for typhoons.
attractions. that serves tourism
commercial development
flights. projects.

Region IX
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPOTUNITIES THREATS
Has numerous Most parts of Zamboanga City is a Extremist
cultural and the region are strategic growth groups
historical difficult to center for the BIMP- continue to
attractions. access. EAGA hound the
(Brunei,Indonesia, region.
Malaysia,Phlippines-
East ASEAN
Growth Area)and
there are boats here
that regularly ply the
route to
Sandaka,Malaysia.

Region X
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPOTUNITIES THREATS
Has numerous Little known The natural Peace and order
natural and about the Highway has concerns from
natural cultural attractions in the made travel to other regions
attractions. region. this region more might spill over
affordable for to Region X.
Ideal for high-
domestic
profile activities
travelers based in
like white-water
Luzon and the
raftings and
Visayas.
canopy walking.

Region XI
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
Has numerous Travel from Davao City is a High level of
natural and Luzon to the growth center for pollution in
cultural region is the BIMP-EAGA. Davao Gulf
attractions. expensive. area.

Region XII

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

Has numerous Image of weak General Santos Insurgency
natural and peace and order. City is a strategic problem.
cultural growth center for
attractions. BIMP-EAGA.

Region XIII
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
Has numerous Travel from Siargao and Constants
natural and Luzon to the Agusan Marsh floods brought
cultural region is have high potential about by
attractions. expensive. as toursit deforestation
Ideal for high Some of the destination. and frequents
profile - provinces have rainfall in the
activities like very few region.
surfing. facilities.
The largest
wetland in the
country is
located here.

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPOTUNITIES THREATS
Has numerous Many parts of The area can Political
natural and the region are greatly benefit instability and a
cultural difficult to from the BIMP- delicate peace
attractions. access. EAGA. and order
Much of the situation.
region is
undeveloped.
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1.What is the basic different between Strengths and Oppotunities?
2.What is the basic different between Weaknesses and Threats?
3. What other SWOT items should be included for ecah region?
4. How can each region overcome its weaknesses to improve its tourism
industry?