SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1697 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It has long been recognized that tourism is an indispensable element of the 
national economy and an industry of national interest and importance. It has been 
reported that the current administration has identified the tourism industry as a key 
engine of economic growth, and has put in a lot of effort to position the Philippines as a 
global destination of choice through aggressive marketing campaigns and the continued 
implementation of several infrastructure projects over the years. 
Yet, it is an industry built upon the most fragile of natural and cultural 
environments, where the most inconsequential and innocent of human gestures can easily 
wreak havoc on the site's resources. The country realizes that, it must conserve, protect 
and strengthen the cultural, historical and natural resources ~pon which the Philippines 
draws its unique competitive advantages (Alampay, Sustainable Tourism: Challenges for 
the Philippines). 
In 2009, Republic Act 9593, known as the Tourism Act of 2009 was 
passed. In that law, it was declared a policy of the state to "promote a tourism industry 
that is 
ecologically sustainable, responsible, participative, culturally sensitive, 
economically viable, and ethically and socially equitable for local communities." 
The Philippines is not the only country that has seen the need to adopt new 
approaches in order to come up with tourist products that do not result in environmental 
degradation or are exploitative of the local communities. . In fact, there is currently a 
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global movement towards the transformation of the tourism industry to what IS now 
called "responsible tourism." 
In 2002, members of tourism enterprises and, government agencies, from all over 
the world, converged in South Africa to attend the Cape Town Conference on 
Responsible Tourism in Destinations. This resulted in what is known as the Cape Town 
Declaration; a statement in which delegates committed themselves to pursuing the 
principles of Responsible Tourism and called on governments to include these principles 
in their development agenda. 
Responsible tourism is an approach to the management of tourism, aimed at 
maximizing economic, social and environmental benefits and minimizing costs to 
destinations. Simply put, Responsible tourism is tourism 'that creates better places for 
people to live in, and better places to visit'. A responsible tourism approach aims to 
achieve the triple-bottom line outcomes of sustainable development, i.e. economic 
growth, environmental integrity and social justice. 
Responsible tourism and sustainable tourism have' an identical goal, that o( 
sustainable development. The major difference between the two is that, in responsible 
tourism, individuals, organizations and businesses are asked to take responsibility for 
their actions and the impacts of their actions. This shift in emphasis has taken place 
because not much progress has been made on realizing sustainable tourism since the 
Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. 
This bill is meant to supplement the mandate given the Department of Tourism, 
under R.A. 9593 by establishing the Center for Responsible Tourism which shall create a 
program for the promotion of responsible tourism. 
~~~)~ 
. MIRIAM DEFE~OR SANTIAtO 
pIP 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1697 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM TO PROMOTE AND STRENGTHEN 
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Responsible Tourism 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Definition of Responsible Tourism. -As used in this Act, the term 
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"Responsible Tourism" shall mean tourism that: 
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Minimizes negative economic, environmental and social impacts; 
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Generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well 
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being of host communities; 
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Improves working conditions and access to the industry 
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Involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances; 
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Makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural 
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heritage embracing diversity; 
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Provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful 
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connections with local people, and a greater understanding oflocal cultural, 
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social and environmental issues; 
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Provides access for physically challenged people; 
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Is culturally sensitive, encourages respect between tourists and hosts, and 
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builds local pride and confidence. 
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SECTION 2. Establishment of a Center for Responsible Tourism. -The Center for 
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Responsible Tourism, to be referred to in this Act as the "Center", is hereby established 
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under the supervision of the Department of Tourism. The Center is mandated to do the 
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following: 
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(A) Develop a nationwide program to promote responsible tourism; 
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(B) Create and maintain a databank on information on best practices, resources 
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and technology that promote responsible tourism; 
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(C) Maintain a website intended to facilitate the dissemination and exchange of 
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ideas to tourism and hospitality professionals and other interested parties on 
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how to start or expand.a responsible tourism program; 
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(D) Conduct training of tourism and hospitality professionals on how to integrate 
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responsible tourism strategies and practices in management and operations; 
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(E) Extend assistance to local government units in the establishment of local 
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responsible tourism programs. 
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SECTION 4. Responsible Tourism Program. - The program to be developed by 
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the Center shall be based on the principles of economic, social and environmental 
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responsibility as defined in the Cape Town Declaration and explained below: 
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(A) Principles of Economic Responsibility: 
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1) Assess economic impacts before developing tourism and exerCise 
preference for those forms of development that benefit local communities 
and minimize negative impacts on local livelihoods (for example through 
loss of access to resources), recognising that tourism may not always be the 
most appropriate form of local economic development. 
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2) Maximize local economic benefits by increasing linkages and reducing 
leakages, by ensuring that communities are involved in, and benefit from," 
tourism. Wherever possible use tourism to assist in poverty reduction by 
adopting pro-poor strategies. 
3) Develop quality products that reflect, complement, and enhance the 
destination. 
4) Market tourism in ways which reflect the natural, cultural and social 
integrity of the destination, and which encourage appropriate forms of 
tourism. 
5) Adopt equitable business practices, pay and charge fair prices, and build 
partnerships in ways in which risk is minimized and shared, and recruit and 
employ staff recognizing international labor standards. 
6) Provide appropriate and sufficient support to small, medium and micro 
enterprises to ensure tourism-related enterprises thrive and are sustainable. 
(B) Principles of Social Responsibility 
1) Actively involve the local community in planning and decision-making and 
provide capacity-building to make this a reality. 
2) Assess social impacts throughout the life cycle of the operation - including 
the planning and design phases of projects - in order to minimize negative 
impacts and maximize positive ones. 
3) Endeavour to make tourism an inclusive social experience and to ensure 
that there is access for all, in particular vulnerable and disadvantaged 
communities and individuals. 
4) Combat the sexual exploitation of human beings, particularly the 
exploitation of children. 
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5) Be sensitive to the host culture, maintaining and encouraging social and 
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cultural diversity. 
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6) Endeavour to ensure that tourism contributes to improvements in health and 
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education. 
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(C)Principles of Environmental Responsibility: 
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1) Assess environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of tourist 
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establishments and operations - including the planning and design phase -
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and ensure that negative impacts are reduced to the minimum and 
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maximizing positive ones. 
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2) Use resources sustainably, and reduce waste and over-consumption. 
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3) Manage natural diversity sustainably, and where appropriate restore it; and 
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consider the volume and type of tourism that the environment can support, 
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and respect the integrity of vulnerable ecosystems and protected areas. 
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4) Promote education and awareness for sustainable development - for all 
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stakeholders. 
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5) Raise the capacity of all stakeholders and ensure that best practice is 
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followed, for this purpose consult with environmental and conservation 
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experts. 
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SECTION 5. Reporting to Congress. - The Secretary of the Dept. of Tourism shall 
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submit an evaluation report to Congress every two (2) years after the effectivity of this 
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Act. 
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SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - A Technical Working Group 
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shall be created under the helm of the Secretary of the Dept. of Tourism which shall 
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promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act. The Technical Working 
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Group shall be composed of representatives from the following: 
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• 
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A) Department of Tourism; 
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B) Department ofInterior and Local Government; 
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C) Department of Environment and Natural Resources; 
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D) National Ecotourism Development Council; 
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E) Tourism estate development and management services; 
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F) Accommodation enterprises; 
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G) Air, sea and land tourism transport services; 
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H) Travel and tour enterprises; 
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I) Heritage Conservation Society; 
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J) Philippine Green Building Council. 
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SECTION 7. Appropriations. - There shall be authorized to be appropriated such 
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amounts as necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, to be included in the annual 
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budget of the Department of Tourism in the General Appropriations Act. 
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SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
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or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall 
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remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance; 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
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or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
lacs 
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