Baguio tourist arrivals cut by half amid oil price hikes

Rising fuel prices have significantly reduced the number of tourists visiting Baguio City during the hot season.

In Bea Pinlac’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, petroleum prices spiked again, though this did not discourage some visitors from traveling to the “Summer Capital of the Philippines.”

“This is just a once-in-a-lifetime experience that our family can enjoy, especially now that my children have come home to visit us,” said Rosalina Abalos.

However, the Baguio City government said tourist arrivals have dropped by as much as 50% this Holy Week.

Hotels and restaurants have also felt the impact of the slowdown. Some hotels reported bookings plunging by up to 60% compared to their usual occupancy.

Where it was once difficult to secure rooms during Holy Week, establishments are now fortunate if even half of their rooms are occupied.

“In terms of booking and revenue, there’s a drastic decrease. We’ve observed numerous cancellations, and we are hoping guests will reschedule,” said Anderson Bangiacan, a hotel assistant sales manager.

The city government said hotel occupancy may improve by Maundy Thursday, but the increase is expected to be temporary.

“According to our hotels, occupancy will rise by Thursday to around 80%. However, by Saturday, it will go down again. They may only see about 30% to 40% occupancy in the succeeding weeks,” said Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

The continued surge in fuel prices is affecting the city’s economy across sectors, with Magalong noting that the situation is now more challenging than during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“From an economic perspective, it's more difficult now. We were even better off when we started with COVID-19. Economically, our status was better back then,” he said.

On Monday, the Baguio City Council approved a resolution placing the city under a state of emergency.

The local government is also considering crafting an economic continuity plan to address the impact of rising oil prices and other commodity costs across sectors.

Despite the decline, tourists continue to arrive in the city.

At the Lion’s Head—one of the usual entry points to Baguio—traffic congestion remains a concern as visitors stop to take photos, contributing to bottlenecks. The Department of the Interior and Local Government has urged measures to address the issue.

“Mayor Benjie Magalong is ensuring that Kennon Road remains obstruction-free. The Lion’s Head is notorious for this; people stop to take selfies, creating traffic backlog. There is only one usable lane when vehicles stop,” said Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

He added that similar initiatives are being implemented nationwide to keep roads clear of obstructions.

The local government, meanwhile, is pursuing long-term solutions to ease congestion in the area.

“Let them enjoy. The PNP is there to manage traffic and ensure safety. In the long term, there is an open space that used to be a creek," Magalong said. 

"If it is stable, we will pave it and convert it into a parking area, then relocate the entrepreneurs there. This will help clear the area,” he added. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/MCG, GMA News