Exploring Youth Perspectives on Ecotourism in the San Bernardino Islands: Insights into Sustainability and Conservation

Aaron Funa; Renz Alvin Gabay

doi:10.48017/dj.v10i4.3521

Autores

Aaron Funa Sorsogon State University, Sorsogon City, Philippines https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6648-8825
Renz Alvin Gabay Sorsogon State University, Sorsogon City, Philippines https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8108-4589

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48017/dj.v10i4.3521

Palavras-chave:

Ética ambiental, Turismo responsável, Desenvolvimento sustentável, Turismo sustentável, Engajamento juvenil

Resumo

O envolvimento dos jovens com o ecoturismo desempenha um papel crucial no avanço da sustentabilidade, embora suas perspectivas permaneçam pouco exploradas, especialmente em contextos cultural e ecologicamente significativos nas Filipinas. Este estudo examina como os jovens de Bulusan, Sorsogon, nas Filipinas, vivenciam e interpretam o ecoturismo nas Ilhas de San Bernardino (SBI), um destino remoto e relativamente inexplorado. Utilizando uma abordagem fenomenológica psicológica, investigaram-se as experiências vividas de dez participantes jovens, com idades entre 15 e 24 anos, por meio de entrevistas em profundidade, cujos resultados foram analisados tematicamente. Os achados revelam que os jovens conceituam o ecoturismo como uma prática intencional e reflexiva, ancorada na responsabilidade ambiental, no orgulho cultural e na tomada de decisões éticas. Temas como redefinição da aventura com propósito, participação ambiental ativa, valorização da natureza intocada e ecoturismo como continuidade cultural emergiram como centrais em suas narrativas. O estudo destaca uma mudança geracional em direção a práticas turísticas orientadas por valores e pela comunidade. Ao dar voz aos jovens de Bulusan, este estudo aprofunda a compreensão de como as identidades locais moldam as práticas de sustentabilidade e ecoturismo nas SBI.

Biografia do Autor

Aaron Funa, Sorsogon State University, Sorsogon City, Philippines

0000-0002-6648-8825; College of Health and Science, Sorsogon State University, Sorsogon City, Philippines. funa.aaron@sorsu.edu.ph

Renz Alvin Gabay, Sorsogon State University, Sorsogon City, Philippines

0000-0002-8108-4589; College of Teacher Education, Sorsogon State University, Sorsogon City, Philippines. gabay.renzalvin@sorsu.edu.ph

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