BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera office of the Department of Tourism (DOT-CAR) remains steadfast to foster a tourism landscape that is inclusive, sustainable, and deeply respectful of the region’s unique cultural and natural heritage.
DOT-CAR Regional Director Jovita Ganongan said that the Cordillera has emerged as a shining star in the Philippine tourism landscape following the reported 31 percent growth in the region’s tourist arrivals last year compared to the previous year.
Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. issued his administration’s priorities for the country’s tourism industry that include making basic developments such as road improvements for easier access to tourism spots; upgrading of airports and create more international flights; making it more convenient for travelers to go around the country; rebuild the creative industries to generate more jobs; foster a unique, attractive, and creative Filipino brand.
Ganongan recognized the presence of investment opportunities in the different parts of the region that can stimulate the local economy, create jobs and support entrepreneurship in the local tourism sector.
She claimed that part of the agency’s commitment is to closely coordinate its programs, projects and activities for harmonization in the local level to realize greater impact and determine areas of support and collaboration.
Currently, the DOT-CAR official claimed that rapid site assessments are now being conducted as a prerequisite for tourism development planning, policy formulation among others to evaluate the state of tourist sites or destinations and determine development interventions that will be introduced in the said spots.
According to her, the agency initiated tourism development plan formulation that is an initiative to capacitate the local governments to formulate their respective tourism development plans pursuant to the guidelines provided by the agency to ensure alignment in the national tourism development plan.
The agency is set to roll out the Philippine Experience Program which is a visit to the potential sites and locations to be featured in the region. The event aims to celebrate culture, heritage, and arts of the different regions in the country.
One of the major tourist attractions in the region is the Cordillera Mountain Trail expeditions as trail activities are aimed to enhance the tourism offerings in the region by providing diverse mountain trekking routes that not only showcase the breath-taking natural landscapes of the region but also highlight their rich historical significance.
Last year, the DOT-CAR reported some 1.69 million arrivals in the region which is 31.15 percent higher compared to the previous year.
Baguio recorded the highest tourist arrivals last year with more than 1.309 million followed by Mountain Province with more than 142,000 arrivals, Kalinga – 118,473, Benguet – 66,833, Ifugao 42,793 and Apayao – 4,886 and Abra did not submit any report related to tourist arrivals in the province.
Ganongan disclosed that the agency was able to accredit some 944 tourism enterprises as of June 30, 2024 to ensure the friendliness of the establishments to the needs of tourists visiting the region. By Dexter A. See
