MANILA, Philippines – Without the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the "Summer Capital of the Philippines" supposedly filled with tourists enjoying the cold weather and scenic spots of the city.
"March to May is usually Baguio’s peak season for tourist arrivals, and these are the hardest-hit months of ECQ," Alec Mapalo, Supervising Tourism Operations Officer at City of Baguio said.
For the month of April alone, total expected loss in tourism businesses is around Php 375 million.
"That’s considering tourist arrival of the same month last year, and assuming an average spending of P2,700 per tourist (based on recent survey)," he said.
He added that the computation does not include small businesses of the locals.
"And that’s only the economy above ground. A big chunk of tourism revenue is an underground economy, which many locals rely on for day-to-day living."
Mapalo is still positive for the normalcy of the situation. "We shall bounce back... refreshed!"
The annual Panagbenga Festival in February and other mass gatherings were cancelled in anticipation of the adverse effects of COVID-19.
On Wednesday, Retired General Restituto Padilla, the spokesman of the National Task Force COVID-19, hailed Mayor Benjamin Magalong for the impressive feat as there were no new coronavirus infections reported in Baguio City in the past 10 days.
READ: No new COVID-19 cases in Baguio City for almost 2 weeks
— The Summit Express
"March to May is usually Baguio’s peak season for tourist arrivals, and these are the hardest-hit months of ECQ," Alec Mapalo, Supervising Tourism Operations Officer at City of Baguio said.
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| Baguio City tourism hard hit by COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Mau Victa via Alec Mapalo / Facebook |
For the month of April alone, total expected loss in tourism businesses is around Php 375 million.
"That’s considering tourist arrival of the same month last year, and assuming an average spending of P2,700 per tourist (based on recent survey)," he said.
He added that the computation does not include small businesses of the locals.
"And that’s only the economy above ground. A big chunk of tourism revenue is an underground economy, which many locals rely on for day-to-day living."
Mapalo is still positive for the normalcy of the situation. "We shall bounce back... refreshed!"
The annual Panagbenga Festival in February and other mass gatherings were cancelled in anticipation of the adverse effects of COVID-19.
On Wednesday, Retired General Restituto Padilla, the spokesman of the National Task Force COVID-19, hailed Mayor Benjamin Magalong for the impressive feat as there were no new coronavirus infections reported in Baguio City in the past 10 days.
READ: No new COVID-19 cases in Baguio City for almost 2 weeks
— The Summit Express
