BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Baguio expects Christmas visitors to adjust travel plans amid economic challenges.
The City Tourism Office expects visitor arrivals during the Christmas season to remain relatively stable despite economic challenges.
City Tourism Officer Aloysius Mapalo said this is based on their observations of past occurrences when travelers were seen to adjust their schedules and transportation arrangements to manage expenses.
Mapalo said the city traditionally experiences its peak tourism season in December with an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 visitors throughout the month.
“Baguio remains a favorite destination during Christmas in spite of any crisis. Visitor numbers may vary, but the changes are not expected to be far from the usual figures as travelers adapt to prevailing conditions,” he said.
He said the city observed similar adjustments after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when some visitors began sharing vehicles and using public transportation to reduce fuel expenses.
“Travel patterns have also changed, with visitors spreading their trips across different weeks rather than concentrating their arrivals immediately after Christmas. Some will postpone it a little, so there is still an extension after New Year. Or some will even advance their trips before Christmas,” he said.
Mapalo said they consider one million visits a safe baseline for its annual visitor volume, although the actual number may reach 1.2 million to 1.5 million, depending on the year.
He said the city continues to prepare for the expected influx, particularly during the holiday season.
“Some visitors are also choosing to remain in their hotels and participate in activities offered by their accommodation establishments instead of frequently using private vehicles to move around the city. We continue to encourage visitors to plan their trips, minimize unnecessary vehicle use and take advantage of public transportation to help reduce traffic congestion,” he said.
Preparations for the Christmas season will include traffic personnel augmentation, flexible rerouting when necessary and the opening of additional parking spaces in selected public facilities, he added. (Aileen P. Refuerzo)
