Abstract
Sustainable tourism development in coastal ecosystems requires reconciling commercial viability with ecological preservation and local community welfare. In developing archipelago nations such as the Philippines, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) have increasingly emerged as institutional mechanisms to finance infrastructure, manage tourism amenities, and stimulate economic growth. This study examines the structural influence of PPP frameworks on sustainable tourism outcomes across coastal local government units (LGUs) in Region VII (Central Visayas). Employing a directed qualitative content analysis, we evaluated 28 institutional policy documents—including Comprehensive Land Use Plans, Local Tourism Development Plans, and municipal PPP codes enacted between 2016 and 2023 across key coastal jurisdictions in Bohol and Cebu. The findings reveal that while PPP policy formulations vigorously articulate economic objectives and private capital mobilization, provisions for ecological thresholds, multi-stakeholder governance, and community-led monitoring remain largely aspirational or subordinated to financial feasibility metrics. Furthermore, policy operationalization exhibits significant institutional fragmentation between municipal zoning, marine spatial protection, and concession agreements. We argue that despite the transformative potential of PPPs, current regional policy models entrench a growth-first paradigm that risks compromising marine biodiversity and social equity. The study concludes with policy recommendations for embedding regenerative tourism indicators, mandatory ecological carrying capacity limits, and enforceable community-benefit covenants into municipal PPP legal instruments.
