Baguio City yet to hit target post-pandemic tourism numbers

BAGUIO CITY – Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said they have yet to hit their target of 2.2 million tourists for the year post-pandemic.

During an interview at the Artificial Groundwater Recharge Facility in Baguio City, he shared that the city has recorded 1.3 million tourists on average from registered accommodation facilities during the pandemic.

Following the pandemic, they had expected to increase their tourism numbers to 2.2 million visitors annually, but have not been able to.

“Umabot na kami, pre-pandemic namin was already at 1.7 to 1.8 [million], pero ngayon ay ine-expect namin itong pagbukas namin, dapat umaabot na kami ng 2.2 [million] pero we're not hitting it,” the mayor said.

(We have already reached pre-pandemic numbers of 1.7 to 1.8 [million], but now we were expecting that when we opened, we should’ve reached 2.2 [million] but we’re not hitting it.)

“Marami pa namang one-day tourists, mayroong mga tourists na tumitira sa kanilang mga kamag-anak, mayroon pang tumitira sa AirBNB, at mayroong mga transient houses na di naman registered samin… Ang average nito, siguro we're looking at about 2 million tourists per year,” he added.

(We still have a lot of one-day tourists, there are tourists that live with their relatives, or AirBNB, and there are transient houses that are not registered with us… On average, we are maybe looking at about 2 million tourists per year.)

According to Magalong, they were able to surpass their pandemic numbers in 2023, but had seen a slowdown after tourist spots worldwide reopened.

Baguio City is now working on strategic plans to boost tourism efforts.

“Gumagawa kami ng strategic plan ngayon on how to attract visitors again, even during the rainy season, and we're going to hold a workshop. Meron kami initial preliminary meeting next week with the Tourism Council,” he shared.

We are making strategic plans currently on how to attract visitors again, even during the rainy season, and we're going to hold a workshop. We have an initial preliminary meeting next week with the Tourism Council.)  — LA, GMA integrated News