QUANTIFYING AND QUALIFYING THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY-BASED ECOTOURISM ACTIVITIES ON THE MONTHLY INCOME OF CUATRO ISLAS RESIDENTS

ABSTRACT
The study, titled "Quantifying and Qualifying the Impact of Community-Based Ecotourism Activities on the Monthly Income of Cuatro Islas Residents," aimed to investigate the relationship between respondents' income and their participation in community-based ecotourism in Cuatro Islas. The study involved 60 residents of Cuatro Islas in Inopacan and Hindang, Leyte, and utilized interview questionnaires as research instruments. The sampling technique employed was a combination of simple random sampling and snowball sampling.
The results of the study indicated that there was no significant relationship between respondents' income and their engagement in community-based ecotourism activities. Despite analyzing various factors influencing ecotourism, the findings did not support the claim that income had a significant impact on participation in community-based ecotourism. The study highlighted that while income might have been a contributing factor, other factors such as personal interests, cultural aspects, and accessibility also played essential roles in determining participation.
Through qualitative research conducted on Cuatro Islas, several key positive aspects of community-based ecotourism were identified, including economic benefits, improved living standards, and environmental preservation. Challenges identified included limited benefits for certain communities, inadequate regulation, infrastructure limitations, seasonal demand, environmental degradation, insufficient government support, limited community involvement, and competition from other destinations.
To address these challenges and maximize the benefits of community-based ecotourism, it was recommended that the local government prioritize infrastructure development, establish and enforce sustainable tourism regulations, involve the community in decision-making processes, foster collaboration with stakeholders, and promote responsible visitor behavior and awareness.
Keywords: community-based ecotourism, income, Cuatro Islas, sustainable tourism, challenges.