Sustainable Development Goals 16.7.2: Assessing Community Participation and Governance for Sustainable Ecotourism on Great Sta. Cruz Island, Philippines

Objective: This study investigates the dynamics of community involvement in ecotourism governance on Great Santa Cruz Island, Philippines, focusing on indigenous resident and administrator perspectives, decision-making, policy formulation and implementation roles, and its impact on sustainable tourism outcomes. Theoretical Framework: This research draws upon Participatory Governance Theory and the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, emphasizing the importance of local resident involvement in decision-making, policy formulation and implementation, and the need for sustainable outcomes across social, environmental, and economic dimensions. Method: Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through FGDs with residents, interviews with administrators, and a survey to both groups. Data analysis techniques included hybrid thematic analysis, weighted mean, regression analysis, and triangulation. Results and Discussion: The data analysis indicate strong community participation in environmental and socio-cultural aspects (mean scores 2.67, 3.00), but limited economic benefits for residents (mean score of 2.00). Contrarywise, Administrators perceived greater economic gains (mean score 4.00) than residents, highlighting the need for improved economic opportunities and stronger community feedback mechanisms. Research Implications: This research underscores the necessity of developing governance models that fully incorporate local participation across all dimensions of sustainable tourism, impacting governance practices in both the tourism and environmental sectors. Originality/ Value: This study contributes to SDG 16.7.2 by assessing how inclusive governance processes impacts sustainable ecotourism, providing valuable insights for improving governance practices that affect the indigenous community on Great Sta. Cruz Island, Philippines.