LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal government underscored that the upcoming conduct of the town’s twin festivals will surely contribute in paving the way to recovery of the local tourism industry that was heavily impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years.
From February 27 to March 3, 2023, the municipality will be staging the week-long Coffee Festival while on March 6-31, 2023, the month-long activities lined up for the annual celebration of the famous Strawberry Festival will be conducted in various parts of the municipality.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda claimed that the face-to-face conduct of the twin festivals will jumpstart the long-standing efforts of the municipal government and concerned stakeholders for the gradual and safe revival of the local economy where tourism plays a vital role in the road to recovery.
The Coffee Festival is an opportunity for local coffee farmers to showcase their Arabica coffee produce to both the residents and tourist alike considering that coffee is one of the thriving micro, small and medium enterprises in the municipality while the Strawberry Festival will help bring back the vibrance of the local tourism industry.
The municipal chief executive admitted that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the local tourism industry has been enormous over the past 2 years but the resumption of in-person gatherings had definitely contributed in the revival of the heavily-impacted businesses which are now starting to lure back their customers with the easing up of the community restrictions.
However, Salda reminded both residents and tourists alike to sustain their adherence to the implementation of the minimum public health standards such as the wearing of face masks in closed and crowded settings, the observance of physical distancing and the practice of personal hygiene and regular disinfection of homes and workplaces.
The town’s Coffee Festival will be held side by side with the conduct of the week-long Session Road in Bloom in Baguio City which is part of the 27th edition of the Panagbenga or the Baguio Flower Festival to entice tourists to visit the municipality and experience the aroma and the caramelized taste of the Arabica coffee which will be served to the public.
The mayor stipulated that the repeat of the Coffee Festival that was earlier conducted last December was a request from the coffee growers for them to aggressively promote their coffee produce and other by-products that will make the capital town the center of coffee trade not only in the province but also in the whole region.
Earlier, the municipal government institutionalized the annual conduct of the Coffee Festival every February and the Strawberry Festival every March as the town’s major crowd-drawing events to entice tourists to make La Trinidad their must-see destinations when planning to go on a vacation in the Cordillera.
Arabica coffee thrives best in the highlands and it is known for its aroma and caramelized taste that makes it highly in demand in the local and international markets.
