BAGUIO CITY – Tourists, excursionists, pilgrims and same-day visitors will soon have to register before they can enter this famous mountain hideaway. It’s because the Sangguniang Panglungsod here has already approved on first reading a proposed ordinance that mandates all visitors to register at the Baguio Visitors Information and Travel Assistance (Baguio VISITA) and obtain a VISITA Pass (VPass) before entering the Summer Capital. The ordinance was laid out by City Councilors Lilia Farinas, Elmer Datuin, and Vladimir Cayabas during a regular session on May 15 (Monday). The mandatory registration which can be done online is meant to help the city in assessing the development of data related to tourism and determine the economic and social impact of tourism on the city. Under the proposed measure, online registration is mandatory for all overnight guests and/or guests of accommodation establishments; attendees at meetings, conventions, and exhibitions, and other organized social, business, educational, and adventure/sports events. Passengers of provincial Transport Network Services (TVNS), tourist transport services, and other public conveniences traveling to and from the city, as well as participants of organized city tours and those who go to the city's tourist attractions are also included in the mandatory online registration. Meanwhile, the managers, organizers, or operators of the aforementioned activities, services, businesses, and places must check the registration of their visitors or participants by validating the VPasses issued to visitors. The online registration shall be encouraged but not mandatory for visitors and guests of secondary tourism enterprises (STEs) such as but not limited to restaurants and bars, department stores, gas stations and motor services, hospitals, and shopping malls. Once the proposed ordinance becomes a law, Baguio City Police Office personnel will be authorized to conduct inspections in plain view of all vehicles carrying tourists, excursionists, pilgrims, and same-day visitors if they have VPasses, otherwise, they must register with Baguio VISITA. Barangay officials are also required to monitor compliance with the ordinance by all tourism-oriented and tourism-related establishments and facilities within their respective jurisdictions. The proposed ordinance was referred to the city council's Committee on Tourism, Special Events, Parks, and Playgrounds.