Friday, February 29, 2008 Benguet to record more tourists if documented
BENGUET could boast of more tourist arrivals if only the province has a way of documenting the actual number of visitors arriving in the locality.
While the province is becoming a top tourist destination, the actual number of visitors could not be officially recorded by the Provincial Tourism Office.
This is due to the fact that the office only records the number of tourists who spent more than 24 hours in the province.
Tourism Officer Claire Prudencio said figures in terms of tourist arrivals could be more for Benguet if all those who visit any place in the province are lodged in their tourist arrival records.
Tourists are defined as those who visit a certain place and spend at least 24 hours in the area of their destination. Those who stay less than 24 hours are considered excursionists.
This is where the inaccuracy takes place. Prudencio said several visitors drop by the province but more often they are not included in the official record of the tourists.
She added that what the tourism office records are only those who stay at accredited accommodation facilities.
Benguet recorded 114,604 tourist arrivals last year.
The province's mountains -- including Mt. Pulag in Kabayan, Mt. Ugo in Itogon and Mt. Sto. Tomas in Tuba -- are among the major tourism destinations.
Majority of visitors spend their nights in campsites, which are not included in the official list of tourists.
La Trinidad's strawberry fields are also one of the frequently visited areas, but tourists usually drop by the area to pick or buy the fruit. They do not spend the night in the town, Prudencio said. (JC)
