By Rose Frejane A. Cruz
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The decline in tourists in the Summer Capital and neighboring areas of Benguet is being felt this Holy Week.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong admitted earlier the decline in tourists after the Panagbenga Festival, which was followed by the gasoline crisis caused by the war in the Middle East.
“Our tourist arrivals dropped by 40 to 50 percent during the successive increases in gasoline prices and maybe this Holy Week our tourists might increase by 60 percent, but after this, our tourism will definitely drop again,” Magalong said.
He said he spoke to bus companies who actually reduced their trips by 50 percent and even the hotel and transients association and reported that their respective bookings during the Holy Week were low.
According to Peter Ng, owner of a large hotel in the city, since the gasoline crisis began until this Holy Week, their hotel bookings have dropped by 40 percent.
“This crisis has had a huge impact, not just me, all businesses, big or small, are really feeling the economic downturn. Right now, I have reduced the number of workers, or rather, they are alternates.” Ng stated.
Andrew Pinero, spokesperson for the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio, said that bookings at establishments have dropped by about 40 to 50 percent since early March.
He said that after the Panagbenga Festival, it is normal for tourist arrivals and hotel bookings to increase during the Holy Week and Summer Vacation, but this year the demand is very low.
Occupancy rates that usually reach 80 to 90 percent during the summer have dropped to about 40 percent, reflecting the stress on the local tourism industry.
He said that most hotels and restaurants are now using their own tricks such as promos and discounts to attract tourists as the Summer Vacation begins.
In the biking area in Burnham Park, where the previous rental fee for a bicycle was P100, it is now only P50 or P100 for two bicycles, to attract the few visitors who come here.
In the neighboring town of La Trinidad, where the Strawberry Farm is a tourist hotspot, now the number of tourists here is dwindling.
“Before, during this Holy Week, my farm was full of tourists picking strawberries, it was fun to see so many of them, but now it is sad that there are almost no visitors,” stated Marife Agad, farm owner.
