Advisers

Reynold R. Bangalisan, LPT

Discipline

Tourism & hospitality

Abstract

Tagalag Eco Park in Valenzuela City, Metro Manila, has emerged as a rebranded ecotourism destination that combines natural beauty, recreational spaces, and economic revival for the local community. Formerly known as Tagalag Fishing Village, the site now features eco-friendly and family-oriented attractions such as cycling, birdwatching, restaurants, and fishing ponds. With the increasing reliance on digital media for tourism promotion, this study aimed to examine the influence of travel blogs on tourist decision-making at Tagalag Eco Park, serving as the basis for a proposed promotional plan. Using a descriptive-quantitative and correlational design, data were gathered from 50 tourists, influencers, and visitors through a survey, employing convenience sampling. Frequency and percentage were used to describe profiles, weighted mean to measure influence levels, and Kruskal-Wallis H-test to examine differences across groups. Results revealed that TikTok (28%) and Facebook (26%) were the dominant platforms influencing tourist decisions, while budget travel and adventure content emerged as the most engaging. A majority (82%) engaged with travel blogs at varying levels, indicating steady but moderate reliance on them for decision-making. Weighted mean results showed strong agreement on the influence of video presentation (3.61), content engagement (3.45), transparency (3.30), and bloggers’ appeal (3.38). Statistical tests showed minimal differences when grouped by profile, though video presentation had stronger effects on frequent visitors. The study concluded that travel blogs exert a universally strong positive influence on tourist decision-making, particularly through visually compelling, credible, and interactive content. The proposed promotional plan emphasizes video storytelling, influencer collaborations, and transparent communication on high-traffic platforms, ensuring sustainable visibility and growth for Tagalag Eco Park as a premier ecotourism destination.

Keywords

travel blogs, tourist decision-making, promotional plan