BAGUIO CITY: The number of tourist arrivals in the Summer Capital picked up in the past week despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, according to City Tourism Officer Aloysius Mapalo.During a media forum on Wednesday, Mapalo said the uptick in visitors started when travel restrictions were eased in the National Capital Region (NCR), where the bulk of Baguio's local tourists come from.Also contributing to the increase in tourists was the subsidy for antigen tests. 'Tourists can avail antigen tests for only P350, which is almost at cost,' Mapalo said.But Mapalo conceded that these measures were not enough.'Although Baguio is currently attracting a lot more visitors, the numbers are not even close to 20 percent of its pre-pandemic tourist arrival figures,' Mapalo said.When residents from the NCR were disallowed from traveling, Baguio only had around 500 tourists in April. The figure increased to 2,169 in May due to promotions offered by local hotels and restaurants.Mapalo said the easing of travel restrictions in the NCR created an immediate surge in tourist arrivals in the City of Pines with 1,400 visitors from June 1 to 6 and an increase of 2,978 from June 6 to 13.Earlier, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the city was once again opening its economy and tourism industry due to its currently 'very manageable covid-19 situation' as he assured that no one's health and safety would be compromised since certain guidelines and procedures would still be strictly enforced.'We need to open up our economy. We are hurting. Many are going hungry, and people are getting depressed,' the mayor said.
