Baguio City - Posibleng Magbukas na sa mga Turista bago Matapos ang Taon

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Baguio City may open its doors to tourists from Metro Manila within this year.

During their meeting on Friday, Puyat said this was among the matters she discussed with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

“No formal date but that was one of the things we talked about with Mayor Magalong,” the Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary said.

According to Puyat, Baguio’s reopening to National Capital Region residents may happen “this year.”

They are now finalizing the plan and are “also adjusting the protocols,” she added.

Magalong said last month that they are planning to slowly resume tourism activities in the Philippines’ “Summer Capital” with local visitors from Region 1 as their priority.

Puyat, however, maintained that the government will no longer allow “overtourism” even as it encourages the resumption of domestic tourism.

She had said that, “There is still the presence of a virus so health and safety first.”

200 visitors daily coming from Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pangasinan were currently accepted by Baguio.

The city government’s registration and booking requirements, which include  COVID-19 testing within 72 hours prior to travel should be followed by the tourists before they allow entry in the city.