Wednesday, March 26, 2008 [manilatimes.net ]
BAGUIO CITY: The Cordillera tourism office disclosed on Tuesday that this mountain resort city, also known as the “ Summer Capital of the Philippines,” is among the most visited tourist destinations north of Manila.
Pura Molintas, regional office director of the Department of Tourism said that tourist arrivals, both foreign and domestic, reached a million, the highest recorded for the past five years.
“We are happy to announce that tourist arrivals surpassed the 5-percent increase target with Baguio as the top destination at 71 percent. Benguet province followed with 11 percent and Ifugao with 9 percent.”
DOT records showed that tourist arrival from January to December of 2007 reached 1,117,226 tourists.
Molintas however, exclaimed that local tourists, or the “balikbayan” still account for the largest number at 90.46 percent, 8.28 percent for foreigners, and 1.26 percent for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Ifugao, or where the Banaue Rice Terraces is located tops in terms of foreign arrivals with 50 percent, or 46,036 visitors and Baguio with 38 percent, or 34,810.
Koreans topped the list of foreign visitors followed by Americans, Japanese and Germans.
Mayor Jonathan Cuyahon of Banaue said that with his town earning recognized as the most frequented by foreign nationals, the provincial government has opted to improve its economy through tourism. Every town now promotes their own tour destinations.
Ifugao is also known for wood carving which is being exported, and also for the Ibulao River, which is being promoted as a white water rafting site. There is also Mount Napulawan, its caves and waterfalls, popular among trekkers.
Molintas added that other festivals that have been lined up for this summer in Ifugao includes the Imbayah in Banaue on April 15 to 17, and the Gotad in Kiangan on April 29 to May 1, back to back with the International Igorot Consultation led by the International Igorot Organizations, a conference which discusses the common problems of overseas Igorots.
In Bontoc, capital town of Mountain Province, the celebration of the fourth Lang-ay Festival is set on March 31 to April 8, with street dancing and a parade highlighting the weeklong agro-industrial fair.
Nantonin in Mountain Province is all set for the San Aliwa Festival on April 12 to 15, while Kalinga is preparing for the Unoy on April 20 to 23.
La Trinidad in Baguio has its Strawberry Festival that will end on March 30. -- Thom F. Picaña
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