Exploring the Local Tourism Industry of San Lorenzo Ruiz Camarines Norte: A Closer Look at its Economic Contribution

This study aimed to describe the local tourism industry of the Municipality of San Lorenzo Ruiz, Camarines Norte along accessibility, brief description of site/attraction, carrying capacity, facilities and activities, portfolio classification and waste disposal. This study also determined the economic contribution of local tourism industry to employment as perceived by cottage owners, resort owners, jeepney drivers and small businesses. This study utilized quantitative method with descriptive design of research. Purposive sampling was employed in this study which involved a total of 76 respondents which of composed of nine (9) resort owners, five (5) cottage owners, twenty-seven (27) jeepney drivers, and (35) owners of small business located near the seven barangays namely Barangay Daculangbolo, Laniton, Dagotdotan, Mampurog, Maisog, Maisog, Matacong and San Isidro where tourist destinations located. Furthermore, a survey questionnaire was used to gather all the pertinent data for this study. The survey questionnaire is a researcher made questionnaire. The information collected in this research was evaluated and explained using several statistical methods and tools. Descriptive statistics were utilized to assess the data within this research. The description and objectives of local tourist destinations were investigated through secondary document analysis to address the first objective. Additionally, frequency counts and weighted means were applied to analyze and present data from the raw information which intended to determine the local tourism industry contribution to employment as perceived by the cottage owners, resort owners, jeepney drivers and small businesses. This second (2) statement of the problem was examined through the use of survey questionnaire. Findings reveled that tourist destinations that can be found in the municipality of San Lorenzo Ruiz are accessible to tourists. Moreover, in terms of carrying capacity, Mampurog River exceed carrying Capacity during Holy Week Season; The local tourism industry’s contribution to employment further describes that jeepney drivers, small businesses, cottage owners and resort owners strongly agree that there are more jobs and employment opportunities at peak season with the highest weighted mean of 4.88, 4.40, 4.71 and 4.50, respectively. The researchers recommend that the Municipal Tourism Council of San Lorenzo Ruiz Camarines Norte may identify various projects in the next implementation year to improve the tourism facilities and infrastructures of different tourist destinations; The researchers recommend to the Municipal Tourism Council to have appropriate monitoring and evaluation committee and may conduct surprise ocular inspection in different tourist destinations during peak season; and also the Municipal Tourism Office may enhance the marketing of the tourist destinations with the use of social media;