Travel Decision and Destination Experiences in the Islands of Caramoan, Philippines: A Visitors’ Descriptive Evaluation

Abstract

An understanding of visitors’ travel desires and experiences are vital in two ways- to adjust destination’s marketing strategies in order to meet the expectation and demand of the travel market and to ensure sustainability of both physical and social attributes of the place. In this sense, this paper evaluated the travel decision and experiences of visitors in the islands of Caramoan considered as one of the Philippines’ uncontaminated and unspoiled natural areas branding it as a “Hidden paradise in the Pacific”. Using a questionnaire-based survey administered to onsite visitors in a descriptive method of research, the islands are visited by tourists due to their desire for nature-based and eco-adventure tour. Their experiences with the destination’s products, services, and hospitality were generally good with emphasis on the accessibility to natural attractions and religious sites, friendliness of the people service providers, suitable weather condition, and organized excursions. With its continued growth, provision of additional nature-based sports activities, and other tourism products and themes should be designed and developed to create diverse recreational participation. In the same way, improving the frontline tourist facilities as well as tourism frontline services is needed to deliver more meaningful visitor experience.