Cooperatives and Tourism: Creating a balance for growth

  Cooperatives have been constant partners of government in providing a platform for the community to actively participate in the tourism industry, especially on projects that reflect the culture and environment through joint pooling of resources of the members.

Financial independence empowering marginalized groups such as the women, unemployed or underemployed, and indigenous populations can be done through tourism-related programs and activities.

Cooperatives have been vigorous in creating employment opportunities in various areas like handicraft production, transportation, accommodation, and escorting. In this way, it reduces movement to other places and preserve the local talents in the communities.

Like in eco-tourism cooperatives, they are pivotal in the conservation and preservation of natural resources thereby reducing the adverse impacts in tourism. Furthermore, espousing responsible tourism by educating visitors about the local culture and environment prevent abuse and encourage patronage leading to sustainable practices.

Local government units have among their priorities the promotion of traditional crafts, cultural experiences, tourism spots and destination, cuisine and related activities and services that would ensure the preservation and appreciation of local heritage. With cooperatives as movers and custodians of ethnic knowledge, it makes tourism an avenue for cultural exchange, thus enhancing and preserving this vital aspect of development.

By reinvesting profits into funding or sponsoring social projects such as schools, health, sports, cultural activities or infrastructure improvements, cooperatives are by obligation conforming to the cooperative’s principle of sharing profits to the communities.

Cooperating and collaborating with public and private entities, cooperatives are able to gain access to added training, marketing opportunities and more funding.

To illustrate some features of tourism-cooperatives that are essential in tourism development is agro-tourism where visitors are taught about agricultural practices and encourage farm stays where they could enjoy stays through appreciating the farming in its raw and fresh nature.

Artisan cooperatives, for instance, could entice tourists to buy locally made crafts of local handicrafts workers, providing them income.

More importantly, eco-tourism cooperatives can offer services like escorting and guiding, nature walks or wildlife tours in protected areas. 

The SCU in cooperation with other cooperatives in the region and supporting their respective local government units and communities intends to foster environmental direction, preserving cultural identity, thus creating a more all-encompassing and viable model for tourism.

Thus, the role of cooperatives in the socio-economic development process, particularly in tourism is indisputable.