THE Department of Tourism-Cordillera Administrative Region is confident that foreign and local tourists will come to Baguio and the Cordillera again with the onset of the Christmas season.

DOT-CAR Director Purificacion Suanding-Molintas said, "We are in the peak season as this is the best time of the year for tourist arrivals."

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

"We are in the fourth quarter and all the indicators are here - tourists have money to spend because they have their Christmas bonuses and other cash incentives already, not to mention remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), all these are disposable income," Molintas said.

"We might have experienced a set back in the tourism industry because of the onslaught of the typhoon [Pepeng] but its kick off actually starts during the month of November when tourists start coming up to the region," Molintas explained.

Molintas added there are lined-up activities for the tourists to look forward to. "We have WOW Philippines which is happening this November and Christmas in Baguio in December, with no less than the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the First Family leading the exodus to the city to spend their holidays."

Hotel and Restaurant Association in Baguio (HRAB) president Anthony de Leon said he is now seeing progress in terms of the number of bookings, which are pouring in, after the zero occupancy rate most hotels in the City experienced as a result of the typhoons.

"The city was supposed to be at the height of tourist influx but HRAB is [now] offering 30 to 50 percent discounts on room rates [to attract them back to the city]," de Leon added.

He said a lot of groups are confirming reservations for their national conventions to include the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (Pice) and the Philippine Mines Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA).

There is also the Fil-Am Amateur Golf Tournament, which is held every year in Baguio, and the participants come from the different parts of the world.

"These are big groups that will definitely jumpstart the city's economy," de Leon said.
(Joseph B. Zambrano)