Predictors of Geotourism in Cavinti, Laguna, Philippines Underground River and Cave Complex

Geotourism is a new form of tourism that focuses on the landscape of a specific area and connects sustainability to all elements of the community in which people interact with the environment. This paper aims to identify the predictors of Geotourism and present a Geotourism framework that can assist the Local Government Unit and the local community for the future preservation and conservation of the Cavinti underground river and cave complex. Aside from identifying and determining predictors, the researchers’ important aim was to assess community involvement and determine the potential benefits of tourism. The descriptive research and analytical technique of descriptive survey was used to determine the predictors. A verified, pilot-tested-adapted, researcher-made questionnaire was used in the data collection which was done via online survey using Microsoft forms. Data gathered was tabulated and handled appropriately with privacy and informed permission. The researchers used a reliability test, as well as weighted mean and analysis of Variance (ANOVA) while regression analysis has been used to verify the potential predictors of Geotourism by assessing community engagement and the potential advantages of tourism in the protected area of the Cavinti Underground River and Cave complex. As per the study’s findings, the significant predictors include enhancing quality of life, opportunity, protecting natural heritage, and recreational activities, which accounted for 72.5 percent of the variation in sustainable impacts. After validating the predictors of Geotourism in Cavinti, the researchers proposed a predictor of Geotourism framework with its major variables: opportunity under community engagement and increasing quality of life, protecting natural heritage, and recreational under potential benefits. The proposed framework was created by the researchers for the community and the long-term sustainability of the attraction.

Keywords – cave, Geotourism, sustainable tourism