Science, Technology, and Society Research Concept Paper (PDF)

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – MALL OF ASIA SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY RESEARCH CONCEPT PAPER Research Team: Group 1 Section: TOU 23...

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – MALL OF ASIA SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY RESEARCH CONCEPT PAPER Research Team: Group 1 Section: TOU 234 Research Members: Manlusoc, Patrisha Gianah Amamangpang, Dessirie Carollo, Dave Gener, Kirk Caro, Lawrence Pian Jemecca Relegano Semilla, Jules Duncil, Divine Mae I. Research Topic/Title: (Derived from SDG) Exploring the Potential of Technology Solutions in Sustainable Tourism Development: The Case of Overtourism  COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – MALL OF ASIA II. Background and Problem This section consists of an introduction to the selected topic. Also, it discusses the challenges and problems that the team would like to solve. (This may include relevant articles and studies.) Tourism is now a global industry, involving hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Every year, people travel both domestically and internationally (Cholik, 2017). Tourism was one of the hardest hit businesses during the Covid epidemic, with international tourist numbers dropping by 72% in 2020, according to the UNWTO. However, traveler numbers have since increased dramatically, with twice as many individuals traveling overseas in the first three months of 2023 as in the same period in 2022. While the tourism industry is expected to account for 11.6% of the worldwide GDP by 2033, an increasing number of people are interested in traveling in a more environmentally friendly manner. In the digital era, technological advancements have revolutionized numerous businesses, including the tourism sector. Technological innovations, ranging from online reservations to virtual reality experiences, have transformed the manner in which individuals travel and discover new locales. According to a Google Travel research, 74% of travelers utilize the Internet for trip planning, whilst only 13% rely on travel agents for preparation. New technologies significantly influence the selection of tourist destinations, particularly social networks, which have fundamentally altered the relationship between the image of a site promoted by Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and the image presented to tourists through sharing platforms and social networks. Digital media fosters an emotional bond between consumers and tourism organizations. This aspect, via a mechanism of imitation, worsens tourist pressure in regions that are already prominent. Nonetheless, it raises the question of whether technology is enhancing this industry or inadvertently hindering growth. Travel has been increasingly accessible, convenient, and tailored through numerous apps enabled by technology. The spectrum of virtual reality-assisted travel planning to mobile applications that aid navigation in unfamiliar locations indicates that the tourist business is embracing these advances. Conversely, excessive dependence on these technological devices has engendered new issues within this industry.The online reservation of flights and hotels has facilitated travel, resulting in increased visitation to certain destinations, which subsequently leads to over-tourism and environmental deterioration. The carbon footprint associated with digital infrastructure, including data centers and servers, is increasingly concerning. This predicament, resulting from overcrowding, resource depletion, and cultural erosion, afflicts renowned destinations such as Venice, Barcelona, and Bali, which experience substantial annual tourist influxes. The issues are exacerbated by the readily available online lodgings that result in varying legal regulations controlling tourism at different sites. Several studies and papers have explored how tourism affects the local community, with a particular focus on resident views towards tourists. In 2018, so-called over-tourism became a major and deadly phenomenon. This issue has affected many cities, cultural heritage sites, recreational areas, and islands. Over-tourism is frequently connected with excessively congested tourism locations, and it has become a source of great worry for all stakeholders. A recent UNWTO research emphasizes the negative implications of over-tourism, such as gentrification, dwindling population, and resident liveability, particularly in urban areas (Campos et al., 2020) Overcrowding affects both locals and tourists. It can impair the touring experience for individuals who are stuck in lengthy lines, unable to attend museums, galleries, and places without advance reservations, suffering rising expenditures for necessities such as food, drink, and lodging, and unable to absorb the awe of a place in relative solitude. In the lack of any actual restrictions, locations have taken it upon themselves to establish some type of crowd control,  COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – MALL OF ASIA resulting in no coherence and no true solution. Boracay, in the Philippines, is a prime example of this phenomenon. Boracay had emerged as one of Asia’s most popular tropical islands. Nonetheless, rampant tourism growth since the 1970s has resulted in unplanned infrastructure and tourism management methods. Until the 1990s, the island’s visitors were primarily solo backpackers. The economic gains they created, however, resulted in increasingly intensive tourism dynamics (for example, hotels and restaurants were erected), as well as rising quality-of-life desires among inhabitants. In addition to increased tourism activity and poorly constructed environmental infrastructure, significant socioeconomic implications on the indigenous community contributed to Boracay becoming uncontrollable. Pollution, exacerbated by a lack of a functional sewage system, became a major concern on the island. At certain beaches, for example, the water contained 47 times more faecal coliform (e. Coli) than was permitted. This caused major health dangers to both locals and tourists (Varga, 2019). Therefore, the goal of this study is to propose a solution to the tourism industry's overpopulation problem. III. Systems Thinking This presents important variables and their relationships. Connected circles Over-tourism Technology Applications Overcrowding Over-consumption of Resources and Waste Gentrification Production Sustainable and Responsible Tourism Major Health Dangers Rising Expenditures (Both local & tourists) Affect Tourists Experience Wear and Tear of Attractions and Local Residents Mitigate Over-tourism Narrative: Over-tourism is the effect of too many tourists congregating in one area. Technology applications such as social media may have contributed in over-tourism which leads to overcrowding, wear and tear of attractions, and over-consumption of resources and waste production, all of which highlight the need for responsible consumption, travel, and management.  COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – MALL OF ASIA Technology Applications: As mentioned above, digital media has an emotional bond between consumers and tourism organizations. People most commonly use social media like Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter to promote tourism services and destinations, potentially leading to over-tourism in the area. Overcrowding: Due to over-tourism, overcrowding in destinations will likely happen. Because of this, there will be over-consumption of resources such as land and water due to high tourism in the place, degradation of natural landscapes, and disturbed wildlife. There would also be waste production, whereas if there are more tourists, there will be more waste, which could be a major health danger not only for tourists but also for residents because of no proper waste disposal and pollution. Gentrification: Overcrowding may further result in gentrification. Gentrification is a term that refers to the arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district, increasing rents and property values, and pushing out many of the low-income and longtime residents (Gentrification: What It Is and Why It Matters, n.d.). Many tourists are likely to come back to tourist destinations; however, in some cases, tourists after coming back will permanently stay in that destination, which leads to rising expenditures or increases in prices because mainly there are so many tourists in the area, which leads to more profit. However, it affected the experience of tourists and residents. Residents may feel like they’re foreigners on their land, which makes it difficult for them in their living expenses because of higher prices, which may force them to leave and settle in other places with cheaper living expenses. This already happens in Siargao, where there are so many foreigners living in the area and other tourists, for example, Filipino tourists visiting the area. They experienced increased prices, which makes it difficult for them to travel in their own country, and prefer to travel outside the country due to it being much cheaper. Wear and Tear of Attractions: Many tourists to the same attraction bring damage and degradation to tourist spots, especially those historical sites, and lead to rapid deterioration without proper maintenance, which affects the tourists (disappointment of the place) and locals' experiences (locals resentment because of the cultural significance of the place). Technology Applications: This may help in mitigating over-tourism through systems that limit the carrying capacity of tourists in tourist destinations and also help in understanding tourist travel and expenditures, which would lead to sustainable and responsible tourism. IV. Proposed Solution to the Problem Presented In this section, the researchers will describe the proposed solution to address the selected problem. This includes scientific principles and technology available in the field. Over-tourism increasingly has become a significant threat to some of the world's most famous destinations. It threatens the integrity of cultural landmarks, natural environments, and local communities, heavy strains on ecosystems and infrastructures create overcrowding, and environmental degradation, and lead to a lower quality of experience for visitors in such particular destinations. These innovative solutions anchor themselves into technology and sustainability in order to address the critical issues at hand. Promising approaches that will be discussed in this paper include the implementation of carrying capacity limits, carrying capacity and sustainable infrastructure, and intelligent tourist  COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – MALL OF ASIA management systems. How the fruitful application of the strategies would keep destinations preserved for future generations while the demands of the tourism industry continue to grow has much to do with the current atmosphere of burning concern. Promising approaches include the application of advanced monitoring technology with limits to carrying capacity. Carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of visitors a destination can take to avoid damaging it. Utilizing the assistance of modern technology including Geographic Information Systems, satellite monitoring, and crowd-sensing cameras, the numbers of visitors and environmental conditions can be tracked in real-time. For example, Venice and Machu Picchu had earlier versions of reservations that managed tourist inflow based on real-time information that ensured visitor pressure distribution without crowding anywhere. These intelligent technologies enable policymakers to continually adjust the number of visitors being allowed within a territory based on the environment or cultural events and thus help preserve the integrity of popular destinations. Another viable solution is the advancement of eco-friendly tourism infrastructure. Indeed, over-tourism in places like Boracay highlighted long-term planning in the integrated consideration of its environmental uses. Sustainable infrastructure includes alternative modes of transport, renewable sources of energy, and effective waste management systems. Modernization of sewage systems and the application of advanced waste treatment plans will help cut down pollution and harm to the environment. Besides, eco-friendly construction of resorts with solar power and 'intelligent' management of water is added to reduce tourism's ecological footprint. Further facilitation has been accorded to waste management with "smart bins" that notify teams when the bins are full with IoT technology. Decentralization of tourism through digital marketing and technological innovation of which the other key success strategies could be, for instance, is the effectiveness of decentralized tourism through digital marketing and innovation in technology. The popular attractions always get overcrowded and other possibly attractive sites remain unexplored. Less-known destination sites can be promoted with the help of AI-powered apps for tourism and AR. Virtual tour guides and apps allow travelers to locate other attractions. Add sustainability scores to the mapping tools Google Maps and TripAdvisor guides, in order to assist travelers to make responsible tourism choices. Real-time data on crowd congestion from intelligent platforms for tourism will enable tourists to choose better places and times in order to have a lower density on overcrowded sites. Other quota systems used with success include reservation frameworks that control tourist flows to high-demand sites. The other roles that such systems play include controlling overcrowding and protecting fragile sites through daily visitor numbers controls. It has, for example, ensured that Machu Picchu has a reservation system controlling its daily visitors at the site while conserving its integrity and concurrently raising the revenue meant for tourists. For instance, to preserve the natural beauty of the same, Italy's Cinque Terre has had to cap the number of people who are allowed to visit. These systems govern the number of visitors but, at the same time, work towards ensuring good quality time is spent since waiting times are reduced and visits turn out to be friendly. Smart tourism management systems, on the other hand, use real-time data acquisition and predictive analytics in managing the visitor flow. The tourist density, climate conditions, and traffic can be tracked using IoT devices, GIS, and mobile applications. Accordingly, it becomes possible to give early warnings of peak periods and plan measures that could be taken by diverting the tourists to less crowded places,  COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – MALL OF ASIA suggesting alternative touring times, and adjusting entry fees. Such systems prove quite effective in cities such as Barcelona in the management of overcrowded zones and control of tourist density to increase experience for most people. Therefore, environment monitoring systems are a necessity to know the condition of the ecosystem in tourist places. For instance, employing drone technology and satellite imaging makes possible the estimation of the extent of damage caused by increased tourism activities such as erosion or deforestation. Specifically, around the Galápagos Islands, drones monitor wildlife and human impact while water quality levels are tracked by sensors in Boracay. Such time-bound interventions help avoid the degradation of the environment and sustain tourism activities. Thirdly, they improve tourist flow management through visitor management systems and booking apps. They include ticketing, scheduling, and algorithms for the regulation of crowds that in return regulate the number of visitors at certain sites. For example, MagicBand technology from Disney prevents overcrowding as it organizes visitation planning very perfectly. The same systems within natural parks and heritage sites avoid overcrowding and enhance visitor experiences. The application booking, for example, used by one to book, for instance, a place like the Louvre and the Vatican Museums, may be used to regulate access and also prevent the over-exploitation of historical and natural sites. V. Illustrations, Figures, and Flow Charts Over-tourism Problems Benefits Solutions Efficient tourist travel management Smart - Affect the economic, destination social, and management Protect and responsible use of natural environmental resource surroundings Examples Understand tourist travel expenditures Examples Quota Systems Advancement in eco-friendly Strain on resources infrastructure Ruin tourist experience Responsible marketing Difficulties of locals living due Environment monitor systems to high pricing  COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – MALL OF ASIA VI. Significance of the Study This section will cover the possible beneficiaries of the proposed solution. Local communities and residents: There would be more efficient management of tourism oversight, meaning that locals are likely to see less congestion through less traffic, reduced pollution, and gentrification. Sustainable infrastructure will improve residence conditions even more. Furthermore, the more even distribution of the flow of tourism throughout the year will stabilize the economies of the locals, thereby reducing dependency on annual peaks and generating an opportunity for the year-round generation of incomes. Associated Firms in the Tourism Industry: They include such companies as tour operators, hoteliers, and so forth that are concerned with any form of relationship with tourism. They will undoubtedly benefit from this sustainable and long-run approach toward tourism management. Businesses will reduce the operational stress during the peak seasons but with certainty of constant economic stability over the year through marketing off-peak travel and taking advantage of price-managing strategies. Green certifications and incentives for such green practices will also attract related players toward increasing markets of environmentally conscious travelers, thereby making them more attractive and competitive. Tourists: The measures on the above list, including reservation systems and extra promotion of relatively less-visited places through internet media, will make tourists' visits experience less overcrowded, with less waiting time, and better quality in terms of seeing. For example, tourists would be able to discover hidden gems to visit. A visitation would become more culturally authentic, and the way of travelling would be carried out in such a way that would suit travelers' values, including those who wish to travel sustainably and in an environmentally friendly manner. Governments and Policy Makers: The research helps to deliver applicable solutions in terms of regulating and managing tourism flows to an effective level in the benefit of governments and policy makers. This would enable the governments to contain some of the deleterious consequences of over-tourism while preserving the cultural as well as natural resources by embracing advanced technologies for monitoring that can impose carrying capacity limit and quota or reservation systems. Dynamic pricing strategies would, in addition, assist the governments and boards to distribute the tourism evenly so as not to expose specific locations to high occupancy during the season. Such practices will catch the attention of environmentalists, which will conserve and maintain the environment because of infrastructure and clean tourism practices. Pollution, low efficiency in waste handling, and the use of green technologies will dramatically reduce the environmental footprint in tourism and keep biodiversity as well as other natural landscapes productive for generations. Future Researchers: Future researchers will find this study useful to draw from in the further studies of implicating of technology in sustainable tourism to mitigate over-tourism. It may propose a model to address the problem of over-tourism by applying scientific, technological, and regulatory methods, thus opening scope for further investigations on how well such solutions will work over the long run and how adaptive they will prove in terms of various contextures of tourism.  COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – MALL OF ASIA VII. References (The researchers may use any format as long as consistency is observed) Abdellatif, H., Hicham, B., & Karim, B. (2024, August 25). Responsible green tourism: A new path for eco-friendly tourism development. http://www.ijeponline.org/index.php/journal/article/view/577 Baloch, Q. B., Shah, S. N., Iqbal, N., Sheeraz, M., Asadullah, M., Mahar, S., & Khan, A. U. (2022). 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