An Assessment on the Impacts of Gastronomic Tourism in Intramuros Restoration

Specifically, the study aims to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:
   1. Age
   2. Gender
2. 2. 3 Frequency of visit in Intramuros
   1. Local tourist
   2. Foreign tourist
3. Reasons for visiting Intramuros
4. What are the programs being implemented to restore Intramuros?
   1. By the Department of Tourism
   2. By the Intramuros AdministrationAmong these programs, what are for Gastronomic Tourism?
5. What is the current status of Gastronomic Tourism in Intramuros?
6. How can Gastronomic Tourism be beneficial to capture a huge volume of tourists coming into Intramuros?
7. What are the impacts of Gastronomic Tourism in the restoration of Intramuros?

Objectives of the Study (Formulate the research objectives)

1. To collect the profile of the respondents visiting Fort Santiago.
2. To list the programs being implemented to restore Intramuros by the Department of Tourism and Intramuros Administration, and to classify what is for Gastronomic Tourism.
3. To know the current status of Gastronomic Tourism in Intramuros.
4. To analyze the benefits of developing Gastronomic Tourism in capturing a huge volume of tourists coming into Intramuros.
5. To enumerate the effects of Gastronomic Tourism in the restoration of Intramuros.

Mass Tourism represents the traditional transportation of large scale of people in a short period of time, while Alternative Tourism represents modern small-scale tourism. Furthermore, Alternative Tourism is classified from Natural Tourism, Cultural Tourism, Events Tourism, and other forms of Tourism.

UNWTO’s Tourism 2020 Vision forecasts that international arrivals will reach 1. 6 billion by the year 2020.

East Asia and the Pacific are in second place in the top three regions that are expected to have a high volume of tourist arrivals with a number of 397 million.

According to the Department of Tourism (DoT), the volume of tourists from January to April 2012 has increased by 14. 61% from last year’s 1,306,944 to this year’s 1,497,851.

Koreans are still in the 1st rank on the most numbered of tourists which accumulate to 330,343 which is 22. 05% of the total visitor inflow.

Followed by Americans with a figure of 239,978 which is 16. 02% of visitor share.

National Statistical Census Board (NSCB) used the 2010 data from DoT offices and come up that Metro Manila has 2. 3 million domestic arrivals. (Expat, 2012)

One of the most popular tourist destinations in Manila is the walled city of Intramuros. It was built in 1571 by the Spaniards during their occupation. It came from the Latin words “intra muros” which literally means “within the walls”. It is the oldest district in Manila that is surrounded by thick, high walls. (Philippine Country) In 2003, former DoT Secretary Richard Gordon has chosen Intramuros to be the venue of “Best of Regions” – a year-long event for the “Visit Philippines 2003”. (Manila Bulletin, 2003)

In able to help in the preservation of the historical place of Intramuros, the researcher aims to assess the impacts of Gastronomic Tourism in the area.

This study aims to benefit the following groups.

1. Department of Tourism. An increase in the volume of tourists coming into your locality is a good indication of a growing industry. It is directly proportional to employment, income, and infrastructure. It also reflects the potential of the place in the field of tourism.
2. Intramuros Administration. The result will give them the information on how can Gastronomic Tourism affects the tourism business in Intramuros.
3. Travel Brokers. This includes Travel Agents and Travel Wholesalers that offer tour packages in Intramuros. They can attract more tourism consumers especially foreign tourists by including a more personal Filipino experience than their usual travel pattern.
4. Foreign and Local Tourists. One of the reasons why people travel is to satisfy their gastronomical cravings. Giving them the chance to experience authentic Filipino cuisine from different regions of the country by just visiting one place can help them to save time and money.
5. LPU. A huge part of the school’s population is from the College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management; hence this research may be useful to the students from the said college as their reference material.
6. Future Researchers. Tourism and Culinary related courses are now on its peak; the result of this study can give other students further information that they can be used in the future.

The study will focus on Gastronomic Tourism, a subset of Cultural Tourism, wherein the researcher will enumerate all programs being imposed by the Department of Tourism and Intramuros Administration in order to restore the heritage site of Intramuros. This information will be used in weighing the impacts of Gastronomic Tourism in restoration of Intramuros and in weighing the current status and development of the said subset of Tourism.

The researcher will give out survey questionnaire which will be delimited to international and domestic tourists coming in at Fort Santiago, Intramuros. The researcher will get the average number of tourist (N) from July 9 to 11, 2012 at 8a. m. to 5p. m. and will use the Slovin’s formula to come up to the total number of respondents (n) that will be used in the study. There will be an age bracket to maintain the reliability of data that will be gathered.

1. www. world-tourism. org
2. Best of Metro in Intramuros. Retrieved from October13, 2004, http://www. travelsmart. net/article/105571/
3. Intramuros Manila Philippines. Retrieved from 2006, www. philippinecountry. com/philippine_tourist_spot/intramuros. html
4. Ramos, R. (2012, June24-July7). Battle Over Top Tourist Destination Not Over Yet? Expat, pp. 1