Baguio tourism reels even with P100-M biz package
>> Friday, June 18, 2021
BAGUIO CITY -- The city’s tourism industry
and similarly businesses are reeling and suffering huge losses due to Covid-19
pandemic amidst efforts by the tourism department and local governments to
revive the same.
Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong said the local tourism industry suffered over P3.5 billion losses in potential income from what normally would have been tourist arrivals.
From the estimated 1.7 million tourist arrivals in 2019, he reported visitors who arrived in the city in 2020 were more than 232,000, seven times lower than the recorded tourist arrivals during the preceding year.
At the height of the implementation of the Luzon-wide lockdown from April to June last year, the mayor said local tourism industry suffered more than P1.6 billion losses in potential income while thousands of workers in industries related to tourism lost more than P550 million in unrealized wages.
Baguio City was however able to generate P1.8 billion income from tourist arrivals last year, the highest among premier tourist destinations in the country after the city opened to tourists October with the “Ridge to reef tourism bubble” between Baguio and the Ilocos Region.
Magalong said initial assistance was provided by the city government to the heavily impacted tourism sector with P100 million set for the Baguio Revitalization Actions for a Vibrant Economy–Economic Stimulus Package (BRAVE-ESP) for micro and small enterprises to recover from the pandemic.
More than P20 million from the stimulus package was loaned to qualified businesses.
Target beneficiaries were reportedly cautions even if they were heavily affected as they are not sure of the viable future of their businesses so they could repay their loans as the pandemic is on.
The mayor said the city’s economy relies heavily on tourism that is why the local tourism industry is slowly being opened with strict implementation of health protocols.
Aside from the mandatory registration in the city’s online registration platform, visita.baguio.gov.ph, visitors are mandated to present their negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or antigen tests as part of requirements before being allowed entry to the city.
Three accommodation facilities have permanently closed while other similar establishments suffered tremendous losses although owners hope revival of tourism industry would allow the city to regain its status as one of the premier tourist destinations in the country. - Dexter A. See
Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong said the local tourism industry suffered over P3.5 billion losses in potential income from what normally would have been tourist arrivals.
From the estimated 1.7 million tourist arrivals in 2019, he reported visitors who arrived in the city in 2020 were more than 232,000, seven times lower than the recorded tourist arrivals during the preceding year.
At the height of the implementation of the Luzon-wide lockdown from April to June last year, the mayor said local tourism industry suffered more than P1.6 billion losses in potential income while thousands of workers in industries related to tourism lost more than P550 million in unrealized wages.
Baguio City was however able to generate P1.8 billion income from tourist arrivals last year, the highest among premier tourist destinations in the country after the city opened to tourists October with the “Ridge to reef tourism bubble” between Baguio and the Ilocos Region.
Magalong said initial assistance was provided by the city government to the heavily impacted tourism sector with P100 million set for the Baguio Revitalization Actions for a Vibrant Economy–Economic Stimulus Package (BRAVE-ESP) for micro and small enterprises to recover from the pandemic.
More than P20 million from the stimulus package was loaned to qualified businesses.
Target beneficiaries were reportedly cautions even if they were heavily affected as they are not sure of the viable future of their businesses so they could repay their loans as the pandemic is on.
The mayor said the city’s economy relies heavily on tourism that is why the local tourism industry is slowly being opened with strict implementation of health protocols.
Aside from the mandatory registration in the city’s online registration platform, visita.baguio.gov.ph, visitors are mandated to present their negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or antigen tests as part of requirements before being allowed entry to the city.
Three accommodation facilities have permanently closed while other similar establishments suffered tremendous losses although owners hope revival of tourism industry would allow the city to regain its status as one of the premier tourist destinations in the country. - Dexter A. See
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