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LOVELY TOURISTS – The city of Baguio is preparing to open its borders to tourists from the rest of Luzon later this week. It is the venue for the coronation night of this year’s Miss Universe Philippines pageant. The candidates recently visited neighboring La Trinidad, Benguet. (VICENTE CABREZA)
BAGUIO CITY – The summer capital will open its borders to tourists from the rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, before October 23, Mayor Benjamin Magalong announced on Saturday.
“We can consider accepting tourists from other regions in Luzon from October 23, but with a limit of 200 per day, which will be gradually increased,” Magalong said.
The city of Baguio had opened its borders to tourists from the Ilocos region on October 1,
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong (FILE PHOTO)
It’s a bold step, Magalong said, because the city of Baguio and other local governments could no longer afford to be “risk averse” now that the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively affected the economy.
All tourists will be thoroughly screened.
The iconic Lion’s Head along Kennon Road in Baguio City (EV ESPIRITU)
Leisure visitors should register with Baguio’s online travel system and reserve rooms at designated hotels for closer follow-up.
Tourists will also bear the cost of the COVID-19 test.
File photo (NEIL CLARK ONGCHANGCO / CONTRIBUTOR)
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“Since October 1, only 4 tourists out of 60 who registered from Region 1 have come to Baguio,” Magalong said, after a meeting here with Secretary of Tourism Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and the Interagency Working Group on Infectious Diseases. Emerging.
“We have to ease some restrictions. Guided tours will now be optional, ”Magalong said, so applicants do not need to carry confirmed hotel reservations as part of entry requirements.
File photo (KARLSTON LAPNITEN)
“But only accommodation facilities accredited by the Department of Tourism will be able to accept tourists,” he added.
The city’s tourism industry lost an estimated P1.6 billion in foregone revenue due to months-long quarantine restrictions.
PARK PREPARATION Boat operators at BurnhamPark have begun preparing for the resumption of tourism activities in Baguio City to ensure that health and safety protocols will be followed to protect visitors and residents from COVID-19. —EV SPIRIT
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