Mount Huraw: The Emerging Ecotourism Destination in San Jose de Buan, Samar, Philippines – Travel And Tour World

Report on the Development of Mount Huraw as a Sustainable Ecotourism Destination

Introduction

Mount Huraw, the highest peak on Samar Island at 890 metres, is being developed as a premier ecotourism destination in San Jose de Buan, Philippines. Located within the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), a site on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, its development is strategically aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report outlines the initiatives undertaken to transform Mount Huraw into a model for sustainable tourism, focusing on conservation, community empowerment, and collaborative partnerships.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The development framework for Mount Huraw integrates several key SDGs, ensuring a balanced approach to economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection.

• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The project focuses on creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for the local community through tourism-related employment, such as guiding and hospitality services.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Efforts are centered on preserving the cultural heritage of San Jose de Buan while building a resilient local tourism economy that benefits its residents.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The initiative promotes sustainable tourism practices that minimize environmental impact and educate visitors on responsible travel.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): A primary objective is the conservation of the SINP’s rich biodiversity, including the protection of critical habitats for endemic and endangered species like the Philippine eagle.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The project is built on a multi-stakeholder collaboration involving government agencies, the private sector, and local communities to achieve its sustainable development objectives.

Strategic Initiatives and Development Programs

Capacity-Building for Local Stakeholders

To support SDG 8, a six-day capacity-building workshop was conducted in September 2025 by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in collaboration with Bukid Outdoor Shop. The workshop was designed to empower local guides, community leaders, and tourism stakeholders with essential skills for managing sustainable tourism. The program was divided into two core components:

1. Organisational Development: This phase focused on strengthening local networks and establishing efficient organisational structures. The goal was to create a cohesive and collaborative tourism industry managed by the community, ensuring long-term viability and local ownership.
2. Tourism Product Development: This phase included training on scriptwriting and tour packaging. Participants learned to create compelling tourism experiences that highlight the region’s natural and cultural assets while embedding messages of conservation and cultural preservation, directly contributing to SDG 12.

Infrastructure and Accessibility

In line with SDG 11, the local government, with support from the DOT, is undertaking infrastructure projects to improve accessibility while maintaining ecological integrity. Key developments include:

• Upgrading roads to improve access to the area.
• Constructing and maintaining environmentally sensitive trails.
• Developing visitor facilities that minimize environmental impact.
• Professionalising local mountain guides through training programs in partnership with the Philippine Army, focusing on safety and environmental ethics.

Implementation of Sustainable Tourism Practices

The core of the Mount Huraw initiative is the implementation of sustainable practices that directly address SDG 12 and SDG 15. The management strategy is designed to balance tourism growth with conservation. Key practices include:

• Enforcing policies to minimise the environmental footprint of tourism activities.
• Developing tourism packages that integrate adventure with educational components on biodiversity and conservation.
• Promoting engagement between tourists and local communities to foster cultural understanding and support for preservation efforts.
• Generating revenue that is reinvested into conservation programs and community development projects.

Future Outlook

A Model for Responsible Tourism

Mount Huraw is positioned to become a national model for sustainable ecotourism. Its development strategy, firmly rooted in the principles of the SDGs, demonstrates how tourism can serve as a catalyst for both environmental conservation and community prosperity. By empowering local stakeholders, fostering strategic partnerships, and prioritising the preservation of its unique natural and cultural heritage, Mount Huraw offers a sustainable future for the people of San Jose de Buan and a valuable contribution to the Philippines’ conservation goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The article discusses the development of ecotourism as a means to generate income and create jobs for the local community in San Jose de Buan.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – The text highlights the need for and the ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure, such as roads and trails, to support the growing tourism industry.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The focus on preserving the natural and cultural heritage of Mount Huraw and the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) directly relates to this goal.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – The article’s central theme is the conservation of Mount Huraw’s biodiversity, its role as part of a large protected area (SINP), and the protection of endangered species like the Philippine eagle.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The collaboration between the Department of Tourism (DOT), local government, private entities like Bukid Outdoor Shop, the Philippine Army, and local community stakeholders is a key element of the development strategy described.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 8.9: “By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.”
  • Explanation: The entire initiative described in the article is focused on developing Mount Huraw as a sustainable ecotourism destination. The capacity-building workshops for local guides and stakeholders on “tourism product development” and “tour packaging” are direct actions to implement policies that create local jobs and promote the region’s unique natural and cultural products.
• Target 9.1: “Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.”
  • Explanation: The article explicitly states that “improving infrastructure has become a priority” and that the local government, with DOT support, is “working to enhance access to Mount Huraw by upgrading roads, building trails, and developing visitor facilities.” This directly aligns with the goal of developing sustainable infrastructure to support economic development through tourism.
• Target 11.4: “Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.”
  • Explanation: The article mentions that the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), which includes Mount Huraw, has been “placed on the Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage status.” This is a formal step in strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard a site of global natural significance. The development of sustainable tourism is presented as a way to “balance conservation efforts with the economic potential” while ensuring the area “remains protected for future generations.”
• Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.”
  • Explanation: The article emphasizes that Mount Huraw is at the heart of the Samar Island Natural Park, a large protected area. It specifically highlights the park’s role as a “habitat for the critically endangered Philippine eagle,” demonstrating a clear focus on protecting threatened species and their habitats.
• Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.”
  • Explanation: The article details a multi-stakeholder partnership. It describes how the “DOT collaborated with Bukid Outdoor Shop” (a private entity) to conduct workshops for “local guides, community leaders, and tourism stakeholders” (civil society). It also mentions collaboration with the “Philippine Army and other stakeholders” for training, showcasing a clear public-private-civil society partnership model.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 8.9:
  • Indicator: Number of local stakeholders trained and number of tourism products developed.
  • Explanation: The article mentions a “six-day capacity-building workshop for local stakeholders” and sessions on “organisational development and tourism product development,” including “scriptwriting and tour packaging.” The number of people trained and packages created are direct measures of progress.
• For Target 9.1:
  • Indicator: Development of new and upgraded infrastructure for tourism.
  • Explanation: Progress can be measured by the specific infrastructure projects mentioned: “upgrading roads, building trails, and developing visitor facilities.” The completion and quality of these projects serve as clear indicators.
• For Target 11.4:
  • Indicator: Status of the site on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
  • Explanation: The article states that the SINP has been “added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.” Progress would be measured by its eventual inscription as a full World Heritage Site, a key indicator of its recognized value and protection status.
• For Target 15.5:
  • Indicator: Conservation status of the protected area and its key species.
  • Explanation: The article identifies the SINP as a “protected area” covering “more than 335,000 hectares” and a habitat for the “critically endangered Philippine eagle.” Monitoring the health of this ecosystem and the population trends of the Philippine eagle would serve as direct indicators of conservation success.
• For Target 17.17:
  • Indicator: Number and nature of collaborative partnerships formed.
  • Explanation: The article explicitly names the partners involved: the Department of Tourism (public), Bukid Outdoor Shop (private), local community leaders (civil society), and the Philippine Army (public). The “six-day capacity-building workshop” is a tangible outcome of this partnership, and the number of such joint initiatives can be used as an indicator.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: travelandtourworld.com