Exploring the economic and environmental status of spring tourism: A comparative analysis of destination and sustainability practices

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the economic and environmental status of spring tourism in San Enrique, Iloilo, and Anini-y, Antique. A comparative analysis, which explores how each destination balances tourism development with sustainability practices, utilized the descriptive-comparative research design. The respondents in the study were 200 individuals from the population of Anini-y, Antique, and San Enrique, Iloilo. Anini-y's programs were well-received but needed improvement, while San Enrique's sustainability practices showed mixed effectiveness. Both resorts could have greatly benefited from focusing more on renewable energy and raising awareness about sustainability to better address both environmental and social needs. In Anini-y, Antique, spring tourism played a major role in creating jobs and providing steady income for local residents. Meanwhile, in San Enrique, Iloilo, the spring resort helped spark new business opportunities, boosting the local economy and supporting the community. However, Anini-y’s economic efforts had a stronger impact on its community compared to San Enrique. From our perspective as researchers, Anini-y stood out for its sustainable and effective approach to tourism, clearly shown through its success in generating jobs, increasing revenue, and ensuring fair income distribution. While both Anini-y and San Enrique had environmental policies in place to support sustainable tourism, Anini-y’s higher performance reflected its strong leadership in environmental management. San Enrique, on the other hand, still had opportunities to strengthen its environmental strategies.