BAGUIO CITY -- The Baguio Tourism Council (BTC) is already mapping out ways to revitalize the once vibrant local tourism industry, even as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continued to hound local businesses in the Summer Capital.
The BTC, co- chaired by Mayor Benjamin Magalong and businesswoman Gladys Vergara-de Vera, approved a resolution detailing P6-million worth of tourism projects with the aim of promoting the city not only as a prime destination, but more importantly, a safe one.
The resolution was endorsed to the state-owned Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), which earlier set-aside the budget for the campaign.
This was in anticipation of more relaxed health measures that are expected to revive the ailing tourism industry.
The P6-million funding will be for Baguio’s rebranding, marketing and promotions, P2.86 million; putting up of the Baguio Creative City website, P1.17 million; holding of the “Relive Your Baguio Memories Photo Contest”, P105,000; and staging of the “Baguio Fashion Sense” project, P400,000.
Tourism data shows, Baguio City failed to realize 540,000-domestic tourist arrivals this year because of the pandemic. The figure is based on guests received by 299-hotels in 2019.
Magalong endorsed to the TPB ground works for tourism revitalization and readiness, including activities the city and the BTC will be pursuing for the remainder of 2020.
Vergara-De Vera said, a memorandum of agreement will be crafted to delineate the duties and responsibilities of concerned parties in order to facilitate immediate release of the TPB funding support and soonest implementation of the project.