Local Products as a Catalyst for Memorable Tourist Experience in Puerto Galera Oriental Mindoro

This study examines the role of local products in creating memorable tourist experiences in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. Local products such as handicrafts, souvenirs, and cultural items reflect the town’s identity and contribute to tourist satisfaction and sense of belongingness. The objective is to determine the connection between tourists’ perceptions of local products—quality, price, and variety—and their memorable experiences measured by satisfaction, recommendation, and revisit intentions. A descriptive-correlational design was used with a survey questionnaire as the main instrument. The sample of 391 respondents was selected using the Slovin formula. The instrument was validated by field experts, and data were analyzed using SPSS with weighted mean, Cronbach Alpha, and Spearman rho correlation. Results showed that tourists viewed the local products as quality, affordable, and culturally diversified. Perceptions of local products had a significant positive relationship with memorable tourist experiences, implying that unique and well-developed products can increase satisfaction, recommendations, and revisit intentions. The study concludes that local products help create meaningful tourist experiences and promote sustainable tourism. It recommends that local artisans and stakeholders maximize authenticity, innovation, and marketing strategies to strengthen cultural identity and economic growth.