Baguio not open for tourism until September

Itching to go to Baguio? Wait after September 2020.

Tourists planning to visit Baguio City will have to wait even after the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) as per LGU.

Tourism remains at the bottom of a list of industries that have been given priority for reopening here in light of restrictions against movement to contain the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The city will lure back tourists through a new marketing campaign that can be launched on Sept. 1, Baguio Day, having lost P1.4 billion in potential gross revenue from tourism-related events from February to April.

About 500 hotels, inns and other accommodation facilities were temporarily closed due to the quarantines, displacing more than 4,000 employees.

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The suspension of tourism events has allowed the city environment and parks management office (Cepmo) to concentrate on improving parks like Botanical Garden, and resume a program to rehabilitate and reforest the city.

“February and the rest of summer are the months for flowers to blossom in this part of the country … But flowers have lasted longer [when people are restricted indoors during the quarantine],” said Rhenan Diwas, assistant city environment officer.

Although the Baguio LGU planned to reopen the whole city closed its doors for tourism, a few restaurants and business establishments have already opened theirs.

Curfew has been practiced in the whole city (8pm to 5am).