City to enhance hospitality for weather-beaten tourists

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The city government aims to improve its hospitality to keep up with the influx of tourists who continue to come in droves to this mountain city even after Holy Week to seek relief from the intense summer heat of the lowlands.

            City officials led by Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas and Councilor Elmer Datuin who heads the council committee on tourism and special events called on city departments to maintain if not augment their maintenance and service crews in the various tourist spots to cater to the needs of the visitors.

            Domogan asked concerned offices to continue to address concerns particularly the peace and order to tackle traffic and crime problems; utilities to ensure water supply and smooth garbage collection; and the tourist-oriented establishments to cater to the needs of the vacationers.

            Datuin requested the departments to maintain the services and amenities mounted for the “Summer Vacation in Baguio” (SUMVAC) operation during the Holy Week including traffic, information, motorist and medical assistance.

            “As we all know because of the hot weather, the influx of tourists to our city continues and this is unusual so we should continue delivering these amenities for our visitors,” Datuin said.

 Since last Holy Week, tourist arrival record in the city has considerably increased as compared to the past years and this was attributed mainly to the city’s cold weather.

            “Our hottest weather has been recorded last Sunday but our climate remains to be the come-on for tourists as it still is the coldest in the country,” Datuin said.

            Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas said this reaffirms the fact that the city is still the Summer Capital of the Philippines.

            Mayor Domogan placed the tourist arrival last Holy Week at half a million which he said is a good number considering the rainy weather at that time and expressed hope that the city can sustain the new-found dynamism in the city’s tourism industry.

            The mayor credited the various public and private groups and volunteers who rendered assistance for the success of the Holy Week operation even as he called on all the civic groups to continue providing services for the whole duration of the summer.

            The city’s summer calendar of events continues this May with barangay fiestas and various religious, cultural and other programs spread out throughout the month.

                The SUMVAC committee is spearheaded by the mayor and action officer Carlos Canilao.