Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ECOTOUR06-2S-2025-2026

College: Forestry, Environment and Resources Management

Campus: Bayombong

DEGREE PROGRAM BSECO COURSE NO. ECOTOUR 22

SPECIALIZATION COURSE TITLE Ecotourism Management 2

YEAR LEVEL 3 TIME FRAME 3 hrs WK NO. 1 IM NO. 3

I. UNIT TITLE/CHAPTER TITLE

Chapter 3. Ecotourism Design

II. LESSON TITLE

 Good Design Principles

 Choosing an Ecotourism Site
 Sustainable Building Design
 Ecotourism Facility Design
 Safety Considerations
 Cultural Sensitivity
 Gender Sensitivity

III. LESSON OVERVIEW

Chapter 3 covers about good design which is essential for the full enjoyment of ecotourism sites. A
well-designed ecotourism facility promotes environmental preservation, cultural sensitivity, inclusion,
gender sensitivity, and safety. In countries located near the equator, it is advisable to follow tropical
design principles.

IV. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

 Explain the principles of good design;
 Choose an appropriate ecotourism site;
 Explain the principle of sustainable building design; and
 Enumerate the design criteria for an ecotourism site, which include environmental sensitivity,
inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, safety. Tropical design, and gender sensitivity.
V. LESSON CONTENT

Good Design Principles

According to Rawsthorn (2008), something is well-designed if it fulfills its function efficiently but
is also beautiful. According to her, a well-designed product is easy to use, technologically innovative,
ethically made, and environment-friendly. The last two characteristics enable guiltless enjoyment of the
product. These design principles should also be applied in making an ecotourism facility. Wright (n.d.)
added that a good design is intuitive, long-lasting, honest, thorough, and minimalist.

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NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ECOTOUR06-2S-2025-2026

A well-designed ecotourism facility should enable the exploration of a place and create
satisfying experiences. It should be ethically made (e.g. does not involve exploitative labor or result to
animal cruelty) and must be environmentally sound. After all, ecotourism should promote nature
conservation. An ecotourism facility must be compatible with a place’s natural and cultural values. It
should not destroy the natural appearance of the site nor introduce themes that reduce its authenticity
and indigenousness. If impacts could not be avoided totally, mitigating measures should be put in
place.
In addition, a well-designed ecotourism site is safe. It should be situated away from hazardous
areas, such as flood basins, steep slopes, earthquake faults, wildfire, erosion, or avalanche-prone
areas, and from wild animal corridors. Finally, a well-designed facility promotes inclusive use.

Choosing an Ecotourism Site

Choosing where to establish an ecotourism facility requires knowledge of where the ecotourism
spots are. In the Philippines, ecotourism sites had been selected based on their natural and/or cultural
features, availability of ecotourism products, level of social/political support, accessibility from major
international and domestic gateways including the potential appeal to these markets, availability of
visitor facilities and services, local benefits accruing to the community through livelihood and
employment opportunities, and peace and order, security and safety (National Ecotourism Strategy
2002).

Based on the above criteria and on their natural and cultural values, ecotourism sites are
classified into banner, key, emerging, and potential ecotourism sites. Banner sites are the one with the
highest natural and cultural values. An ecotourism project located in a site of outstanding value will be
able to attract attention and generate financial and promotional support compared to projects located in
more obscure places.

A site can be considered as having outstanding value it is listed as a UNESCO heritage site, a
banner ecotourism site in the Philippine National Ecotourism Strategy (2002), and/or it is possesses
cultural identity. According ti Prof. Felipe de Leon Jr. former chairman of the National Commission for
culture and the Arts (NCCA), cultural identity derives from: (1) originality, (2) indigenousness, (3)
authenticity, (4) uniqueness, (5) historicity, (6) magnitude, and (7) excellence.

Out of more than 200 protected areas in the Philippines; 18 were given priority status for
ecotourism development (NES, 2002):

1. Coron Island, Palawan

2. El Nido Managed Resource Protected Area, Palawan
3. Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape, Palawan
4. Mt. Guiting-guiting Natural Park, Sibuyan Island, Romblon
5. Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park, Mindoro
6. Mt. Isarog National Park, Camarines Sur
7. Mt. Malindag National Park, Misamis Occidental
8. Mt. Pulag National Park, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya
9. Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary
10. Apo Reef Natural Park
11. Batanes Protected Landscape and Seascape
12. Bataan National Park
13. Kanlaon Natural Park
14. Mt. Kitanglad Natural Park
15. Mt. Apo Natural Aprk
16. Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park
17. Siargao Protected Landscape and Seascape
18. Turtle Island Wildlife Sanctuary

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NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ECOTOUR06-2S-2025-2026

These sites are deemed ideal for ecotourism operations

Mehta (n.d.) advised that an ecotourism site must have access to public utilities, proximity to
various transportation modes and transportation infrastructure, and social services. Places of spiritual
value (e.g. burial places) must not be built over but preserved.

The next stage is to assess the place in terms of access. As much as possible, the ecotourism
operation must use previously disturbed areas and access to the site is possible using existing roads
and tracks. It is also advisable to locate development and activity on a lower value habitat instead of a
high conservation value one. Ecotourism operation should also avoid riparian zones and narrow and
steep slopes. Development footprint including appropriate barriers to limit activity to stabilized and
designated areas must be made (Mehta, n.d.)

Sustainable Building Design

Fisher (1992 in Soliman & El-Din Rashed, 2002) listed five major principles of an
environmentally sustainable building design: (1) healthful interior environment, (2) energy efficiency, (3)
environmental form, (4) use of wcological materials, and (5) good design.

To provide a healthful interior environment, materials and building systems should not emit toxic
substances in the building. Interior must be revitalized and cleaned with filtration and plantings. Energy
use must be minimized through energy efficient cooling, heating and lighting systems. The design of
the building(s) must be suitable for the ecology of the site, the nature of the region, the climate and
local culture. The materials to be used in construction must also minimize destruction of global
envrionemnt by having low embodied energy, which is the amount of construction. Good design means
that efficient, sustainable and elegant relationship of function, circulation, form, mechanical systems,
and construction technology have been achieved.

There should be communal areas to encourage social interaction among park users. For
example, cottages may be clustered around an open court and equipped with benches. Such social
interactions provide opportunities to create business networks, friendships, or even romantic
relationships that make an ecotourism experience more memorable.

Ecotourism Facility Design

The design and appearance of the ecotourism facility should be compatible with the landscape
and local conditions. The overarching design philosophy of the facility should be climate-sensitive and
exude a strong “sense of place”. A sense of place is the feeling of being in a unique and authentic
setting as compared to what one feels when in a replicated site (replica tourism). Creating a sense of
place involves accentuating all the sensory elements that make the place unique – sight, sound, smell,
texture and taste (Mehta, n.d.)

The aspect and orientation must optimize insulation, ventilation and heating and cooling.
Landscape features must be reflected in design through scale, form, color and texture of the facility.
One design aspect in this regard is to mimic the surrounding areas in terms of the roofline.; pitched
roofs will blend well in a mountainous are while flat floor lines are suitable on flat terrain, such as in
desert or plain. The architecture and materials of the facility should reflect indigenous design whenever
possible. The facility must be designed so that it does not dominate landscape features. For example,
the building should not be taller than the trees and built on top of the hill that it breaks the natural
contour of the land. Moreover, “biomimicry” may be employed such as tree- house accommodation in a
forested area. For landscaping, endemic low maintenance plant species must be used. Imported plants
sometimes cause species infestation and wiping out of local plants. They are also more expensive to
maintain or do not bloom or grow into healthy plants. Special care must be given to trees that will be

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NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ECOTOUR06-2S-2025-2026

affected by ecotourism-related constructions. Trees should be retained, relocated, or replaced. Mehta

(n.d.) suggested that limiting pruning to preserve the natural appearance of landscapes; using natural
landscape approach where there is progression in size of plants from small varieties or ground cover to
larger shrubs located closer to building walls; and using massing concept, which is the planting of the
same species of plants in clusters (similar to what you see at Ayala TechnoHub in Quezon City and
EDSA Shanri-la Hotel).

The size of the ecotourism facility should be as small as possible with smaller footprints, thus
maximizing open spaces and will also result in lower construction cost. (Concentrating development in
a particular site will minimize cost of infrastructure provision. In particular, common public areas like the
lobby, reception, parking lot, and restaurants should be located at the central part of a park or resort to
make them convenient for all guests.) Recycling, water and energy conservation, and waste
minimization practices should be visible and promoted to visitors. Existing structures particularly those
adjudged as heritage buildings such as churches, ancestral houses, watchtowers, or warehouses,
should be preserved and configured for adaptive reuse if needed. Adaptive reuse is defined by
Republic Act 10066 (2009) as “the utilization of buildings, other built-structures, and sites of value for
purposes othern than that for which they were intended originally in order to conserve the site, their
engineering integrity, and authenticity of design.”

Outdoor lighting may be used on pathways for orientation and safety but not spotlights or
floodlights, which create light pollution. To further reduce the lighting, movement sensors and portable
lights may be used.

Mehta (n.d.) recommended to minimize vehicular traffic inside the site. Sufficient parking space
must be made available at the ecotourism park entrance and sustainable forms of transport (animal
drawn carts, bicycles, or golf carts) can ferry the guests into the park itself. Internal roads should not be
more than 5 meters wide to discourage speeding and minimize impediments to wildlife mobility.

In addition to the aforementioned guidelines, Calanog et al. (2012) suggested taking advantage
of a site’s natural scents and sounds. For a country like the Philippines with heavy rainfall for half of the
year, they also recommend integrating cisterns, tanks, or dams to collect rainwater for use duing the
drier months. This is especially advisable for places where piped water is not available, such as on
small islands.

Maintaining scenic views contributes value to the tourist experience. By providing panoramic
windows to let guests enjoy such views, savings on interior art decorations can be realized. Units or
rooms with better views can be sold at higher rates, contributing to higher incomes. Taller buildings
must be built behind shorter ones; cottages must be arranged so the guests occupying rear units can
still enjoy the natural scenery. When possible, build only on one side of a river. Protection barriers or
guards should not be too high as to obstruct the view of people on wheelchairs. Do not plant trees that
will obstruct a nice view; mangrove planting along coastlines where there are beautiful rock formations
is not advised. When natural scenery is not visible in certain cottages, a garden may be built within a
courtyard, with each unit having direct access to it by way of wide doors. Buildings must be below the
tree line and ridgeline to preserve the natural appearance of a place (Mehta, n.d.).

While many ecotourism planners advocate biomimicry and the use of indigenous materials,
some planners like Gil (2009) support “ecotecture” where buildings are made of more modern materials
like glass, cubic in shape, and do not look that “natural”. However, it is the resort layout that takes
information from nature; the buildings could be arranged in the shape of a young fern. Regardless of
the design philosophy, each structure must be able to provide comfortable place to eat, hang around,
sleep, and bathe. Sustainable and affordable energy can be supplied, cottages or facilities must have
comfortable beds, fans or air-conditioning units during hot and humid weather, and clean toilets and
shower facilities should be provided. Moreover, instead of local materials like bamboo, wood, stone,
ice, there is an eco-resort in East Timor where the cottages were fashioned from container vans.

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NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ECOTOUR06-2S-2025-2026

Ecotourism operations must be able to preserve the environment. The use of recycled materials
or those taken from sustainable production systems and supplied with minimal packaging and no
residual wastes are encouraged. Waste minimization must be a goal throughout an ecotourism
project’s life cycle from the onset of construction to operations and possible decommissioning. In the
event that an ecotourism project has to be decommissioned, the site must be brought back as close to
its original condition as possible (Eagles et al. 2002).

It is not advisable to build accommodation facilities onsite; park visitors have to use
accommodation facilities in adjacent towns or homestays in neighboring villages (Eagles et al., 2002).
Such option will not only bring benefits to local people but also minimize the need of residents to travel
to work. Except for the greater control over the operations of accommodation facilities and generating
added income. Eagles et al (2002) mentioned the main objections against building roofed
accommodation in protected areas: they are not compatible with a natural area as they tend to be
polluting; they require services which need to be transported into the area, which create secondary
impact on the area; development can also grow out of hand.

Inclusive Design

It is also advisable to make the site accessible to persons with disability (PWDs). Universal
design concepts may be implemented in certain ecotourism sites. PWD friendly design must provide for
ample width for paths and boardwalks, manageable slopes or inclines (1:8 ratio), and firm surface
materials for wheelchairs.

Some tips from Byahut et al (2004) and Parks Canada (n.d.) on accessible outdoor facilities
include the following:

1.A minimum of two wheelchair spaces for a seating capacity of up to 100 seats and four wheelchair
spaces for seating capacity from over 100 to 400 seats.
2. at least one accessible route complying with necessary dimensions for wheelchair access shall be
provided within the boundary of the site from public transportation stops, accessible parking spaces,
passenger loading zones, and public streets or sidewalks to an accessible building entrance they serve.
3. Walks, halls, corridors, passageways, aisles, or other circulation spaces shall have 2,000 mm
minimum clear headroom.
4. The universal standard color contrast code of white and blue should be followed in all the signage
and all numeric as well as alphabetical information sources.
5. Ground and floor surfaces along accessible routes and in accessible spaces including floors, ramps,
stairs and curb ramps should be level, stable, frim and slip-resistant.
6. The edges of reflecting pools must be protected by railings, walls, curbs or detectable warnings.
7. Accessible parking spaces shall be atleast 2,400 mm wide. Parking access aisles shall be part of an
accessible route to the building or facility entrance. Two accessible parking spaces may share a
common access aisle.
8. At least one accessible parking space must be provided for every 25 slots; two percent must be
accessible parking space if there are more than 500 slots.
9. At least one entrance in the facility should have accessibility to the disabled person. In the case of
anew construction, this entrance should be the main entrance. The position of this entrance and
alternate routes should be well-marked through proper accessibility signage using the international
symbol of accessibility.
10. Door handles should be lever type rather than circular knobs or latches.
11. A toilet cubicle designed for a wheelchair user should be of internal dimensions not less than
1,500mm x 1,500 mm with a clear space not less than 900 mm wide next to the water closet.
12. Clear knee space provided below a drinking fountain should not be less than 750 mm high and 230
mm deep.

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NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ECOTOUR06-2S-2025-2026

13. Provide boardwalks if topography is broken or rough to avoid compaction of sensitive vegetation or
where the ground is permanently or seasonally wet or soft.
14. Campgrounds must have natural-looking firm surface, not paved to maintain the desired camping
experience.
15. Provide floating docks in places where water level rises and falls.

Tropical Design

In a tropical country like the Philippines, tropical architecture is most applicable. According to
Gut et al. (1993 in Ossen, Abdul Majid, & Ahmad, 2008), the main principles in designing a tropically
responsive building are:
[Link] gain minimization during daytime and heat loss maximization at night in hot seasons;
2. site selection according to micro-climatic variable (e.g. air temperature extremes between day and
night, humidity and precipitation, radiation, winds);
3. building structure optimization with respect to thermal storage and time lag;
4. Control of solar radiation; and
5. regulating air circulation.

Regulating the temperature in a building to comfortable levels may be done to positioning the
building properly, having adequate distances from other buildings installing shading devices such as
eaves and awnings around a structure, installing 8 cm- thick polystyrene insulation underneath a metal
roof, having a green roof (garden or simply a bed of grass) on the roof top, having a hollowed attic and
high indoor ceilings with ventilation mesh, using porous wall materials, and having walls with big
openings like doors and windows (Ossen et al. 2008; Prianto, Bonneaud, ZDepecker, & Peneau, 2000).
For walls, lessening solar absorption can be done by using light reflective material, making the walls
thicker and having thermal insulation. For windows, it is important to position them away from either the
east or west whenever possible; planting trees around the building, landscaping, using vines and
creepers on walls, integrating internal shading devices (e.g. blinds, louvers, drapers, screens) and
external shading devices (e.g. overhangs, fins, canopies, awnings) are recommended. Shallow pools
can also add a cooling effect. Ventilation will be facilitated by making the windows small and placed
high on the wall under the eave, aligning windows and doors to capture breezes and allow cross-flow
breezes. Likewise, high-level ventilation can be achieved through roof cavity space via roof vents.
Raised floor design and use of slatted floors can promote air circulation as well, to prevent heat island
effect, it is recommended that paving is interspersed with patterns of grass cover and by choosing light-
colored, rough paving surfaces. Lighter color with rough finishes also reduce glare. Other measures
suggested by Calanog et al. (2012) are installing wind chimneys to cool the inside of a structure (similar
to the Occupational Safety building along North Avenue, Quezon City), putting screens on doors and
windows to prevent the entry of insects, sourcing materials locally which also nurtures local culture, and
situating service areas away from sleeping quarters. Mosquitoes can be repelled by planting
lemongrass, marigolds, chilies, and basil (lao National Tourism Administration-Asian Development
Bank, 2005).

In the Philippines where there is abundance of sunshine during the first half of the year and rain
during the remaining half, rain, catchment cistern and solar power for heating or lighting could be
incorporated into the ecotourism site design. Rainwater stored in such cisterns could be pumped to
water gardens and flushed toilets.

In addition to landscaping, Inskeep (1991) prescribed the use of trees and shrubs for
establishing pathways, controlling wind flows, blocking unwanted views, and as fences or boundaries
for tourist sites to direct breeze and dissipate noise. In Banaue, the flash from unpainted iron roofs
contrast with the surrounding green of the rice terraces. Thus, conservation experts suggest painting
iron roofs brown or green to eliminate reflective light from such roofs and make structures blend better
with the environment.

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NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ECOTOUR06-2S-2025-2026

Safety Considerations

Danger zones in an ecotourism park must be clearly marked. The roofs of cottages, visitor
center, lodges, and other covered structures must be able to withstand 150kph winds (Calanog et al.
2012).

An ecotourism facility should be prepared for emergency such as bush fire. There should be
water tanks installed for such eventually (Gil 2009). Boardwalks and ramps must be equipped with
handrails while barriers or guards must be installed along ridges to prevent falls. Pathways must have
sufficient setbacks and a minimum vertical height allowance of around 8 feet from trees or protruding
branches. Fences must be built near hazardous areas like a precipice, waterfalls, blind spots, and
vehicular traffic (parks, [Link], 2004).

Situate facilities away from wildlife habitats to avoid close encounters of humans and potentially
dangerous animals. Animals must not be caged; they should be allowed to roam free in their natural
habitat so it is humans who are supposed to adjust.

Designate trails for biking and hiking to prevent park users from wandering into potentially
dangerous areas.

Single entry unisex bathrooms rather than multiple stall restrooms are preferred because they
prevent attacks from strangers because of better visibility. Access doors for these toilets must be
clearly visible to adjoining public streets or driveways (park, [Link], 2004).

Parking lots must be on level ground. Each slot must be wide enough for safe maneuvering.
Parking curbs or stoppers prevent cars from overshooting the slot and bumping into another car or
falling.

Cultural Sensitivity

The ecotourism facility must apply cultural sensitivity in the provision and design of facilities. For
example, signage must be multilingual based on the biggest nationality groups visiting the area. Toilet
facilities must accommodate cultural and religious preferences. For example, there must be a
combination of both western (sitting-type) and eastern style (squatting type) toilets. Toilet paper, bidet,
or hard showers must be available. If a place has a sizable number of Muslim visitors, prayer rooms
could also be provided.

Gender Sensitivity

The needs of everyone must be taken into consideration in the design of facilities. In particular,
women and LGBTQ visitors should have their own comfort rooms. Toilets for women must have, more
toilet cubicles than toilets for males. Some areas are more liberal than others wherein gender-neutral
toilets are installed for male, female, and people of any gender. Identity (members of the LGBTQ
community). However, more conservative societies will only install separate toilets for male and female.

II. EVALUATION (Note: Not to be included in the student’s copy of the IM)

III. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Answer the following questions accordingly in your own words.

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NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ECOTOUR06-2S-2025-2026

[Link] the principles of good design. Cite an actual example of a facility to illustrate how good design
principles are followed or violated.

2. Enumerate at least five general guidelines when designing an ecotourism facility

[Link] is it important to know tropical design principles? What are these principles or guidelines?

Note: Please upload, submit, or turn in your work to our Google classroom/Edmodo.

IV. ASSIGNMENT

Visit a nearby park or ecotourism site. Evaluate it using the standards you learned in this chapter.

V. REFERENCE/S

Angeles, Marie V. (2021). Global Culture and Tourism Geography. Sta. Cruz Manila

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