CHAPTER I

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Introduction

The travel and tourism industry is one of the world’s largest industries with a global

economic contribution and one of the most significant source of employment and Gross

Domestic Products (GDP). In many countries like Philippines being one of the best tourist

destinations in South East Asia, tourism acts as an engine for the development and also

tourism in the developing and least developed countries is the most viable and sustainable

economic development option through foreign exchange earnings. These strengths can be

particularly apparent in rural areas, which may have a comparative advantage for tourism.

According to World Vision, Filipinos are currently living below the poverty line

and majority of the poor are in rural areas.To help the poor families in the Philippines

particularly in rural areas to meet their needs, effective economic livelihood are essential.

A support and source of income is a big help to give them their daily needs in life, tourism

has a bigger concern when it comes to employment and job distribution. Most important,

it helps the local sector to promote their places and give them a source of income also

improve the quality of life for those local residents who will be benefited, and for the tourist

that will be the one to visit the place.

Many of the tourists, are now fond to travel for fun and adventure some of them

travel to learn the history and culture of the place, and maybe for family gatherings or

sometimes together with your special someone, but still adventure is one of a kind

experience specifically for the millennial and teenagers that is always prone in social media
as the way of sharing their experience that attracts more tourist to come and to experience

also the beauty they experienced, and this kind of tourism promotion has a big chances of

more positive outcome to be gain. This will happen with the help of the people and the

community to promote unfamiliar attraction to gain more tourists and to expand the

environment livelihood for new opportunity.

Every place has its own uniqueness that is really fascinating, interesting and one

that will truly reveal the beauty of a certain tourist spot. From the north western portion of

the Bicol peninsula, Camarines Norte is a province that is rich with natural resources and

potential for tourism that is surely be like even thou to a jaded tourist, Camarines Norte

being known as next tourist destination because of the natural beauty and its uniqueness.

From the wide variety of tourist attractions expanding from its beaches, rivers, mountains

that include falls, that is really beautiful to sightseeing. Brgy. Submakin that offers falls,

infinity pool, and a natural beautiful tree that has a big branches that is a perfect spot for a

good shot of pictures, lets also include the kind and warmth welcome of the Brgy. Officials

and tour guides that is willing to help the tourist. Promoting Maligaya Falls in the most

effective way can help and increase the rate of livelihood of the local residents of Brgy.

Submakin.

Brgy. Submakin, being a barangay that is home to a plentiful nature and still having

a high rate of poor families, an opportunity to lessen the poverty is great help not only to

the residents but also to the barangay. Being home to lots of marvelous sights and diverse

biodiversity, Maligaya falls is a hidden paradise that can be the next attraction for tourists

that is fond of nature, history and adventures. Promoting the place will open opportunities

to help the livelihoods of Barangay Submakin.

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Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the impacts of Maligaya falls as one of the major

tourist destination of Labo, Camarines Norte.

Specifically this study answered the following questions:

1. What are the reasons why tourists are being interested to visit the falls?

2. What are the attributes of Maligaya falls in terms of:

a. Resources

b.Accessibility

c. Safety

d. Waste management?

3. How can Maligaya falls affect the livelihoods of Barangay Submakin?

4. How can tourists give additional income for the people who lived in Barangay

Submakin?

Scope and Limitations

This study aimed to determine the impacts of Maligaya falls as one of the tourist

destination of Labo, Camarines Norte that greatly impact the livelihood in Barangay

Sumakin. It can also identified the reasons why tourists are being interested to visit the

falls, attributes of Maligaya falls in terms of resources, accessibility, safety and waste

management, the effects of Maligayafalls to the livelihood of Barangay Submakin; lastly,

how tourists give the additional income for the people who lived in Barangay Submakin.

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 The respondents of this research are the tourism officer of Labo, the officer in

charge of Museo de Labo, Barangay Officials of Barangay Submakin, Municipal Disaster

Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) officer of Labo, prospective visitors

and residents of Barangay Submakin.

Significance of the study

The following are the beneficiaries of this study.

Community. Community will also be benefited when Maligaya falls is already

promoted, because it will open more opportunities like jobs in many different ways that

the residents will have an additional income that will also lessen the high rate of poor

families in the rural areas like Barangay Submakin. The skills and talents of the people in

the community will be shown. And lastly it will be an advantage for the barangay to be

united and to be more cooperative.

Residents. This study may greatly help the residents of barangay Submakin for it

will be guide for them and also the one that will open opportunities for them to think for

things that they can sell or business in order to generate an additional income for their

family in everyday life.

Tourist. This study can give them also perception that there is new choice of place

in the country that is physically oriented by nature and more fun for adventures.

Sangguniang Barangay of Submakin. The researchers will find out that this can

be a great help for the said barangay for it will raise awareness to the residents that there is

a probability of having livelihood programs and elevating their source of income through

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the stimulation of Maligaya falls. For all of these, they can also construct a new

denomination in the tourism industry and became authentic in the near future generations.

Municipality of Labo. This study can raise awareness to the municipality for they

have the capacity to help the barangay in terms of supports for developing the destination.

Restaurants and hotels will be having a potential to gather more consumers thus it will be

an instrument for the government in terms of interests. It can be way of aspiration to people

that there is a lot of visitors to come in their town.

Researchers.This study will help them to gain knowledge and understanding

regarding conducting research about the lifestyle of people in rural areas.

Future Researchers.Being the pioneers that conducted this study, this can help

them as this will serve as their basis or guide for their future studies and also a data bank

of some information about tourism.