A Vital Matters Perspective: The Visible and Invisible Impacts of Tourism-Driven Commercialization
The Visible and Invisible Impacts of Tourism-Driven Commercialization
Eulalie Dulnuan discusses the visible impacts of tourism-driven commercialization on both the landscape and the environment, particularly in Banaue. She describes how the desire to sell goods to visitors has led many residents to construct makeshift roadside stalls—often tin-roofed structures that resemble shanties—creating an increasingly cluttered and visually unappealing environment. Beyond aesthetics, Dulnuan highlights the environmental strain caused by the rising demand for woodcarved souvenirs, which has depleted local tree resources essential for carving. As a result, artisans are forced to venture outside the province in search of suitable wood, accelerating the depletion of valuable tree species and illustrating the ecological consequences of unchecked commercial tourism.

