Baguio's opening doors to Ilocos, Cordillera region tourists on Sept. 21

The Baguio City government is looking to accommodate tourists from Northern Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region starting September 21.

According to Ian Cruz’s report on “24 Oras”, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said officials are looking into a tourism bubble concept for tourist spots that have zero to low COVID-19 cases.

“Papayagan lang mag-travel within ‘yong mga mababa ‘yong COVID cases or na-contain na ‘yong COVID cases,” Romulo-Puyat said.

As of Monday, Baguio City has logged 341 cases of COVID-19, only 81 of which are still active.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong said they needed to open the tourism already to boost the economy amid the health crisis.

He estimated the loss in tourism revenues at P1.7 billion since the lockdown in March.

Magalong said the loss will reach P4 billion if they will not open until the end of the year.

“’Yong pinaka-best siguro ngayon is ‘yong tinatawag nating responsible behavior. ‘Wag lang sana nila isipin ‘yong kanilang sarili, kundi isipin rin nila ‘yong safety ng iba,” he said.

Moreover, Magalong said they will require tourists to have a mobile registration, confirmed accommodation booking and a mandatory COVID-19 test before being allowed to enter the city.

Puyat said there will also be cashless transactions in establishments.

“Lahat digital na talaga… bago sila umakyat sa Baguio, naka-book na muna ng hotel, online lahat. So hindi puwedeng biglaan aakyat at tsaka dapat tested lahat, may medical certificate,” she saod.

Meanwhile, Magalong said the city government is also planning to put up a centralized triage center in the Baguio Convention Center parking lot.

“One-stop shop siya. May triage, may waiting area, may testing, mayroong 16 beds kung saka-sakaling may suspected case,” he said. -Ma. Angelica Garcia/NB, GMA News