TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND POLITICS IN THE PHILIPPINES

The paper examines tourism in the Philippines, a South East Asian nation which has yet to reach its potential as an international destination. Conditions in the country are analysed and possible reasons for its relatively poor performance are discussed. Various barriers to development are identified, but political circumstances emerge as a key consideration whereby instability in assorted manifestations has impeded the operation of the industry, investment and policy making. While experiences of destination development are distinctive, the particular example offers insights into general processes and underlying dynamics.