Nat’l tour executives sojourn in Sagada

By Francis B. Degay

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- Forty three managers of tour agencies nationwide, all members of the Philippine Travel Agents Association recently visited this famous tourist town.

The delegation was headed by Fe Abling Yu, General Manager of Arfel Travel and Tours and accompanied by Banaue Hotel manager Zenaida Quinahan and Ryan Ambloza of the regional Department of Tourism.

According to Yu, the objective of the team was to familiarize travel agents and operators on various destinations in the Philippines including Sagada and Banaue that is acclaimed as the 8th wonder of the world.

Following, the tour, Yu said members of PTAA are now giving priority to organizing inbound tours aside from outbound.

Due to limited time, the Sagada tour guides brought the visitors to some places of interest such as the hanging coffins, Lumiang burial cave, mouth of Sumaguing cave, a view of some rice terraces in Barangay Balugan and Kiltepan, Episcopal Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Sagada cemetery and Echo Valley.

First timers were amazed to see the great wonders of Sagada particularly its cool and natural environment imbued with pine scent and natural rock formations.

This place, aside from Baguio, according to them is another temporary hideaway for people who want to stay away from the heat, pollution and stress in the lowlands.

The visitors were entertained by Robert Pangog, technical assistant of Sagada Mayor Edwardo Latawan, Jr. and the provincial tourism officer.