The Socio-Economic Effects of Globalized Tourism to the Indigenous Communities: the Case of the Aetas in Boracay Island, Philippines

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Global tourism has presented itself in many different forms and had far-reaching effects on nearly every person on the planet. However, globalized tourism is like a double-edged sword, while so much attention is paid on the extreme positive and negative effects, the process has created both winners and losers. The same mixed result can be seen amongst the indigenous people of Boracay Island, Philippines. This study aims to analyze the socio-economic effects of globalized tourism to the indigenous people of Boracay particularly in their employment, income, livelihood, and lifestyle in terms of (a) Educational status; (b)Access to utilities e.g., electricity and water; (c) Use of technology and modern appliances; (d) Access to health services; and (e) Consumer behavior (food choice).

METHODS

This study employed a Mixed Method Design using the Descriptive Historical Comparative Analysis to provide the synthetic view on how globalized tourism affected the Aetas of Boracay in terms of employment, income, livelihood, and lifestyle in different time frames.Quantitative Method for the analysis of data was used to determine the significant difference in the Aetas salary and income before and after the 1990s via t-test. Qualitative Method of research was utilized through in-depth interview and observation. Community immersion was used as the main instruments to gather the needed data of the study to determine the change in lifestyle of Aetas.

RESULTS

Boracay Island's transition from having traditional tourism Nipa accommodations, traditional bamboo facilities modified to first class hotels is the result of globalized tourism and significantly changed the Aetas employment, income, livelihood and lifestyle. The participants of this study were the 30 Aetas head of the families of Boracay Island.

DISCUSSIONS

The results demonstratethat the Aetas were originally engaged in industries where they took various materials directly from nature such as foraging, fishing, and hunting. Presently, Aetas were employed in tourism-related services working as housekeepers in hotels tremendously changing the Aetas traditional employment, income, livelihood and lifestyle in terms of (a) Educational status; (b) Access to utilities e.g., electricity and water; (c) Use of technology and modern appliances; (d) Access to health services; and (e) Consumer behavior (food choice).