Monday, April 02, 2007 Benguet is most visited province in Cordi
BENGUET'S mountainous terrain has positively contributed to the province's tourism industry and has made it the second most visited locality in Cordillera.
Provincial Tourism Officer Claire Prudencio said the province's mountains have been the major contributor to the increase in the arrival of tourists here.
She said the creation of mountain trekking activities the past years has drawn more tourists, mostly backpackers, to explore Benguet.
Mt. Ugo in Itogon, Mt. Takadang in Kibungan and the famous Mt. Pulag in Kabayan were named as the most frequented adventure sites in the province.
"We are expecting more tourists to come up with the organization of more mountain trekking activities," Prudencio said.
Benguet Governor Borromeo Melchor, in his State of the Province Address on Thursday, said Benguet ranked as the most visited province in the region, next to Baguio City.
Last year, the province recorded a tourist arrival of 106,382, which is 26.63 percent higher than that of 2005.
Prudencio said Benguet's closest rival in terms of tourism is the province of Ifugao, which is famous for its breathtaking rice terraces. (JC)
