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CERÁMICA VIGANA The city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur is not only famous for its cobbled streets and mansions from the Spanish period, but also for its “burnay” (clay jars) made by local artisans. Vigan, one of
the most popular destinations in northern Luzon, it has become a “ghost town” due to the absence of tourists and tourist activities. —CHILD JESUS ORBETA
BAGUIO CITY, Benguet, Philippines —Beaches and other popular tourist spots in the Ilocos region are bracing for the resurgence of the tourism industry that is expected to benefit this city and its neighboring provinces.
The city government proposed a “crest to reef” strategy for this objective to the governors of the provinces of La Unión, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte during a meeting with the Secretary of Tourism, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, here the Tuesday.
The planned tourism corridor, or “tourism bubble,” will allow residents here and the surrounding cities and towns to travel exclusively within the Ilocos region amid the threat of coronavirus.
Tourist sites in northern Luzon typically attract visitors from Metro Manila and other key cities, which have become epicenters of the disease.
Business will thrive thanks to domestic tourists within this corridor until the public health crisis is over, according to Aloysius Mapalo, the city’s tourism official, but Mapalo said measures to control the flow of tourists should be considered, determine how each destination could enrich a traveler’s experience and ensure profitability.
Tourist corridor
The provincial leaders have agreed in principle to form the tourist corridor to reopen their leisure industries.
Governors Matthew Manotoc (Ilocos Norte), Ryan Singson (Ilocos Sur) and Amado Espino Jr. (Pangasinan) said they would also explore a possible joint public health security system before opening their areas to tourists.
Tourism has suffered the biggest hit from the quarantine since March that halted the movement of people across borders.
“Ilocos Sur does not have large manufacturing industries to speak of. We rely heavily on tourism, “Singson said. According to him, two hotels in his province have closed, while Vigan City, a World Heritage site and one of the most visited destinations,” is like a ghost town today.
The Union was represented by businessman Jeff Ortega, director of the regional office of the Department of Tourism and brother of Governor Francisco Ortega III.
Puyat suggested making an inventory of the destinations of Ilocos that would be part of the corridor’s strategy, such as the beaches of the towns of San Juan and Bauang in La Unión and the town of Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte.
Manotoc said residents along the corridor needed strong assurances that they would be protected from the coronavirus due to the risk of transmission when people cross borders. He asked governors to help determine the most efficient tests they should use on travelers.
Product exchange
Mapalo said the city government had proposed that tourists undergo the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test on their own and that travel agencies be chosen as security officers.
The tourism corridor will also establish a product exchange network that will revitalize economies in northern Luzon, Manotoc said, adding that traders and manufacturers could exchange Ilocos products such as “bagnet” with “ube” or strawberry jams produced in Baguio. and Benguet.
As the tourism corridor strategy was being finalized, Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong urged residents to “rediscover our own city and be tourists to our city.”
Allowing tourists to return to Baguio would be “gradual, calibrated and based on our degree of confidence.” he said.
—Vincent Cabreza
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