Tagaytay preparing for expected 500K New Year visitors

Tagaytay City is anticipating more than 500,000 tourists to arrive before the New Year, according to City Mayor Abraham Tolentino.

In a public briefing on Thursday, Tolentino said that the New Year often sees more tourists than Christmas time due to the city’s cool weather, close proximity to Metro Manila, and available tourist activities.

“Nakikita po namin dun na po nag-fafamily bonding, naglu-lunch sa mga trunk ng sasakyan nila, etcetera. So, ganun po karami [ang turista] kasi sinamantala po ng mga mamamayan yun pong good weather sa Tagaytay. Mga bonuses po nila tyaka yung long weekend, yun po yung naging factors,” said Tolentino.

(We’ve observed that tourists spend their family bonding, and have lunches on the trunk of their cars, etcetera. So, that’s how many [tourists we have] because they take advantage of the good weather in Tagaytay. They have bonuses and the long weekend, so that’s what becomes a factor.)

The mayor added that the Taal Volcano has been quiet recently, which may have also contributed to the number of tourists.

However, the number of tourists is accompanied by heavy traffic that is made worse by the construction of the Barangay Mendez -  Crossing East Junction flyover that is expected to be  finished by 2024.

Despite these concerns, Tolentino assured that bypass roads have been opened to provide travel options for travelers en route to Tagaytay or nearby municipalities.

 “Yun pong pinaghandaan namin, dun po kaming merong augmentation sa mga overtime, sa mga traffic enforcers namin. Nagprovide na po kami ng 2 alternate routes. Pinalagyan na po namin ng tao tyaka mga signages before entering Tagaytay [upang sabihin na] meron na po kaming binuksan na 2 alternate routes going to bypass, and you will hit Aguinaldo Highway not passing Tagaytay anymore,” he said.

(That’s what we are preparing for, we have augmentation for the overtime for our traffic enforcers. We have provided two alternate routes. We’ve placed people and signages before entering Tagaytay [to indicate that] the alternate routes going to bypass, and you will reach Aguinaldo Highway without going through Tagaytay anymore)

“The problem is, hindi ko naman po mapipigil mga taong talagang gustong dumaan sa mga retaurants. Humingi po ako ng pang unawa at pasensya, hindi ko naman po mapigilan doon sa Tagaytay po mag family bonding because of the weather and everything,” he added.

(The problem is, I can’t stop people who really want to pass by the restaurants. I apologize and ask for patience, as I can’t stop people from doing their family bonding in Tagaytay because of the weather and everything.)

Tolentino advised travelers to allot an hour and a half from Manila to Tagaytay during the ]holiday season, and that the most convenient travel time would be early in the morning due to fewer motorists and commuters as well as to enjoy the cold weather to the fullest. —RF, GMA Integrated News