THE ADVANCEMENT OF ECOTOURISM AND ITS BENEFITS TO LOCAL AND SMALL BUSINESSES: AN INVESTIGATION

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the advancement of ecotourism and its benefits to local and small businesses in terms of its impact on the local economy, including job creation, income generation, and overall economic development. It also determines the challenges faced by small businesses in terms of marketing, financing, and operational efficiency. Lastly, it examines the benefits of ecotourism in terms of economic, social, and environmental aspects. The study will use a mixed-methods research design, collecting quantitative and qualitative data from 15 small business owners and 15 local community members in La Mesa Ecopark, using surveys and questionnaires and purposive sampling techniques. From the results of this study, it reveals that Ecotourism has an impact in local economy it creates jobs, generate income and overall economic development to local and small businesses. It also unveils in the results that respondents strongly agree about the challenges that small businesses encountered in marketing, financing and operational efficiency. Lastly, it demonstrates in the results that local and small businesses benefits from the ecotourism in terms of economic, social and environmental aspects. This study recommends stricter rules for ecotourism sustainability, including waste management, visitor regulation, and preserving fragile areas. It also recommends that small businesses learn marketing strategies, promote local, eco-friendly products, and use social media for competition.