ECOTOURISM DESIGN - The materials to be used in construction must also
Good design is essential for the full enjoyment of
ecotourism sites. A well-designed ecotourism facility
promotes environmental preservation, cultural
sensitivity, inclusion, gender sensitivity, and safety.
GOOD DESIGN PRINCIPLES
- A well designed product is easy to use, technologically
innovative, ethically made and environment-friendly.
- A well designed ecotourism facility should enable the
exploration of a place and create satisfying experiences.
CHOOSING AN ECOTOURISM SITE
- In the Philippines, ecotourism sites had been selected
based on
 natural and/or cultural features
 availability of ecotourism products
 level of social/political support
 accessibility from major international and domestic
gateways and tourism sites
 current market demand from international and
domestic visitors including the potential appeal to
these markets
 availability of visitors facilities and services
 local benefits accruing to the community through
livelihood and employment opportunities
 peace and order
 security and safety
- A site can be considered as having outstanding value if
it is listed as a UNESCO heritage site, a banner
ecotourism site in the (Philippine) National Ecotourism
Strategy and/or it possesses cultural identity.
- According to 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
7. excellence
- It is advised that an ecotourism site must have access
to public utilities, proximity to various transportation
modes and transportation infrastructure and social
services.
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING DESIGN
(FIVE MAJOR PRINCIPLES)
1. HEALTHFUL INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
- Materials and building systems should not emit toxic
substances in the building.
2. ENERGY EFFICIENCY
- Energy use must be minimized through energy-efficient
cooling, heating and lighting systems.
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FORM
- The design of the buildings must be suitable for the
ecology of the site, the nature of the region, the climate
and local culture.
4. USE OF ECOLOGICAL MATERIALS
minimize destruction of global environment by having
low embodied energy, which is the amount of energy
that came into the sourcing, production, and delivery of
materials used in construction.
5. GOOD DESIGN
- It means that efficient, sustainable and elegant
relationship of function, circulation, form, mechanical
systems and construction technology have been
achieved.
ECOTOURISM FACILITY DESIGN
The design and appearance of the ecotourism facility
should be compatible with the landscape and local
conditions.
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.
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
 Danger zones in Ecotourism Park must be clearly
marked.
 The roofs of cottages, visitor center, lodges and
other covered structures must be able to withstand
150kph.
 There should be water tanks installed
 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
 Situate facilities away from wildlife habitats to avoid
close encounters of humans and potentially
dangerous animals
 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
 Parking lots must be on level ground
CULTURAL SENSITIVITY
- Signage must be multilingual based on the biggest
nationality groups visiting the area.
- Toilet facilities must accommodate cultural and
religious preference.
- There must be a combination of both western (sitting-
type) and eastern style (squatting type) toilets.
- Toilet paper, bidet, or hand showers must be available.
- If a place has a sizeable number of Muslim visitors,
prayer rooms could also be provided.
GENDER SENSITIVITY
- Women and LGBTQ visitors should have their own
comfort rooms. Toilet 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.