Starting Oct. 22, Baguio City will relax travel restrictions and open its doors to tourists from the entire Luzon in a bid to revive its ailing tourism industry.
According to a social media post from the Baguio City Public Information Office (PIO), the city’s “Ridge and Reef program” would be expanded to allow travelers from all over Luzon to visit Baguio’s famed tourist attractions.
Expanding the travel bubble
“The tourism program coverage expansion was recommended by the Baguio Tourism Council and the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio and concurred with by city health officials subject to observance of health and safety protocols against Coronavirus disease,” Baguio PIO said in a recent Facebook post.
Last month, the ‘Summer Capital’ declared that the city would be reopening its tourism destinations to visitors from La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. On Oct. 17, Mayor Benjamin Magalong announced that the city government will allow visitors from any region in Luzon but will be placing a strict 200-guest limit.
Those who want to schedule a visit must first register in the Baguio VIS.I.T.A (Baguio Visitor Information & Travel Assistance). Here, local government pledges that documentary requirements will be relaxed for tourists. Since launching on Sept. 22, VIS.I.T.A program has received more than 2,000 registrations and around 200 travel requests.
Step-by-step guide
In a Facebook post, the Baguio City Tourism Office (CTO) also gave updates on existing guidelines.
- Tourists from Luzon now allowed, starting Oct. 22.
- No need to upload itinerary and booking confirmation
- No need for tour operators or travel agents for stay-cations, tourists can directly book to hotels.
- DIYs and day tours (at least overnight stay) are still not allowed.
- Staying with friends or relatives still not allowed. Tourists must stay in accommodation establishments with Certificate of Authority to Operate (CAO) as listed in Baguio VISITA.
- When stay-cationers decide to go on city tour, arrange with DOT-accredited tour operators
- Limit is still 200 guests per day
- Testing is still required, either prior to travel (done within three days prior to travel) or upon arrival for a fee.
Aside from the guidelines, Baguio CTO issued a step-by-step guide for safe and responsible travel.
1. Before travel:
- Explore and arrange visit with DOT-accredited tour and travel agents
- Have yourself tested.
- Register and create a Baguio VIS.I.T.A account at visita.baguio.gov.ph
- With your VISITA account, schedule a visit and fill out the electronic Health Declaration Questionnaire
- Wait for an email confirmation, and save or print your QR-coded Tourist Pass (QTP)
2. During travel:
- Don’t forget your QTP and copies of all uploaded documents
- Stopovers are only allowed in designated pit stops
- Entry access to Baguio will only be via Naguilian Road or Palispis (Marcos) Highway
3. Upon arrival:
- Present QTP and documents at the border checkpoint
- Proceed to the Tourists Triage at CAP Convention Center in Camp John Hay
4. When going around the city:
- Seek for assistance from DOT-accredited tour operators
5. During re-entry back to hometown:
- Follow your own LGU’s re-entry protocol
New health and safety measures will be finalized together with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Technical Working Group (TWG), Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said during a consultation meeting with Baguio City officials last Saturday.