THE City of Tabuk is currently preparing for tourist arrivals once the Province of Kalinga decides to open its doors.

Mayor Darwin Estranero explained talks with tourism-related establishments in the city are constantly being done to ensure minimum health protocols will be strictly followed even as the tourism industry resumes.

“One agenda that we are preparing for this December is for the opening of the city to tourists,” Estranero said.

Among the tourist destinations, Tabuk City is famous for is the white water river rafting, which was frequented by tourists before the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine in March 2020.

“Aside from the City of Tabuk, we also have our white river rafting--which is known here in Northern Luzon--which was being frequented by local visitors coming from as far as the Visayas and Mindanao region. We are actually in the process of establishing an RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) pop-up laboratory as an added measure not only for the residents of Tabuk City and Kalinga but for the expected entry of tourists once we open,” added the mayor.

Tabuk and the Province of Kalinga are not only preparing for the reopening of its tourist destinations but continue promoting various industries of the area.

“Aside from our tourist destinations in the city and the province, we continue to promote and export our famous Kalinga brewed coffee, which most of these products are being shipped to Metro Manila,” Estranero added.