Travel rules ease; Baguio, City Benguet tourists up
>> Sunday, November 14, 2021
BAGUIO CITY — Tourism is experiencing a rebound in this summer capital
with easing of travel restrictions even as the central business district
experienced an upsurge in number of vehicles.
Neighboring towns of Benguet also reopened to visitors as the province is now under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions.
Sellers at the Strawberry Fields in the capital town of La Trinidad, 6 km from here, reported rise in number of tourists.
Baguio City tourism chief Alec Mapalo said there was “an influx of tourists” since the city was placed under Alert Level 3 on Oct. 29.
Mapalo said 974 tourists arrived that Friday; 1,916 on Saturday; 1,943, Sunday and 1,735 on Monday.
Only tourists who complied with requirements set by the city government were allowed entry, Mapalo said.
The city has reopened to fully vaccinated tourists and other non-essential travelers from areas under Alert Level 3 or lower starting on Oct. 25.
Minors aged 12 to 17 who are unvaccinated or have received at least their first dose must present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test taken 72 hours prior to arrival or during health screening at the city triage.
Meanwhile, Kabayan town in Benguet, home of the world famous Timbac cave where century-old mummies are kept, has yet to reopen to tourists.
Mayor Basilio Louie Daoal Jr. said they are still waiting for the recommendation of the national pandemic task force.
Baguio allowed the entry of fully vaccinated travelers, subject to guidelines.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the city started accepting leisure travel applications from fully vaccinated individuals starting Oct. 25.
Acceptance is based on guidelines posted on the city government’s Facebook page.
Magalong said he hopes the reopening of Baguio “will spur economic activity” especially since the city was placed under strict restrictions for two months due to a rise in cases.
The city’s information office said fully vaccinated tourists may visit Baguio City, except those coming from localities under Enhanced Community Quarantine, modified ECQ or on Alert Level 4 or 5.
Travelers should first create an account on visita.baguio.gov.ph a day before their intended travel.
It said that the city will limit individual registrations to 2,000 for now.
Fully vaccinated adults should also upload on the website, and bring, their vaccination card or certificate.
“Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated adults are not allowed,” the PIO said.
Children aged 12 to 17 who have yet to receive jabs or complete their doses are required to present negative antigen or RT-PCR results within 72 hours prior to arrival or during screening at the city triage.
Kids who are 11 years old and below shall be tested with the consent of their parents or accompanying guardian, it added.
All tourists must first proceed to the city triage for health screening and verification.
“Symptomatic visitors, regardless of vaccination status or test result, will be immediately tested and isolated, and referred to health officials for further action and advice prior to visitor’s return to point of origin,” the PIO also said.
But the city government said all visitors must follow minimum health and safety protocols, including wearing face masks and observing physical distancing, at all times.
Travelers are also told to stay in accommodation establishments listed on the Baguio Visita website and enter business establishments with Safety Seal.
Neighboring towns of Benguet also reopened to visitors as the province is now under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions.
Sellers at the Strawberry Fields in the capital town of La Trinidad, 6 km from here, reported rise in number of tourists.
Baguio City tourism chief Alec Mapalo said there was “an influx of tourists” since the city was placed under Alert Level 3 on Oct. 29.
Mapalo said 974 tourists arrived that Friday; 1,916 on Saturday; 1,943, Sunday and 1,735 on Monday.
Only tourists who complied with requirements set by the city government were allowed entry, Mapalo said.
The city has reopened to fully vaccinated tourists and other non-essential travelers from areas under Alert Level 3 or lower starting on Oct. 25.
Minors aged 12 to 17 who are unvaccinated or have received at least their first dose must present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test taken 72 hours prior to arrival or during health screening at the city triage.
Meanwhile, Kabayan town in Benguet, home of the world famous Timbac cave where century-old mummies are kept, has yet to reopen to tourists.
Mayor Basilio Louie Daoal Jr. said they are still waiting for the recommendation of the national pandemic task force.
Baguio allowed the entry of fully vaccinated travelers, subject to guidelines.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the city started accepting leisure travel applications from fully vaccinated individuals starting Oct. 25.
Acceptance is based on guidelines posted on the city government’s Facebook page.
Magalong said he hopes the reopening of Baguio “will spur economic activity” especially since the city was placed under strict restrictions for two months due to a rise in cases.
The city’s information office said fully vaccinated tourists may visit Baguio City, except those coming from localities under Enhanced Community Quarantine, modified ECQ or on Alert Level 4 or 5.
Travelers should first create an account on visita.baguio.gov.ph a day before their intended travel.
It said that the city will limit individual registrations to 2,000 for now.
Fully vaccinated adults should also upload on the website, and bring, their vaccination card or certificate.
“Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated adults are not allowed,” the PIO said.
Children aged 12 to 17 who have yet to receive jabs or complete their doses are required to present negative antigen or RT-PCR results within 72 hours prior to arrival or during screening at the city triage.
Kids who are 11 years old and below shall be tested with the consent of their parents or accompanying guardian, it added.
All tourists must first proceed to the city triage for health screening and verification.
“Symptomatic visitors, regardless of vaccination status or test result, will be immediately tested and isolated, and referred to health officials for further action and advice prior to visitor’s return to point of origin,” the PIO also said.
But the city government said all visitors must follow minimum health and safety protocols, including wearing face masks and observing physical distancing, at all times.
Travelers are also told to stay in accommodation establishments listed on the Baguio Visita website and enter business establishments with Safety Seal.
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