LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez is giving a year for a tourism master plan in Baguio City and its neighboring towns to happen.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Purificacion Molintas said Task Force BLISST will now be in full swing after a meeting with Secretary Jimenez and line agencies last week.
BLISST stands for Baguio City and adjoining towns La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay.
Molintas said an interagency meeting happened focusing on the development of the Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Tuba, and Tublay sites.
Molintas said the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) presented the fragile situation of the areas as existing issues of the department.
Jimenez has given a 12-month timetable to make a master plan for the BLISTT, making next year very crucial for tourism in the region.
Since the presidential Task Force took charge the development of tourism in Boracay, the BLISTT area as since been included in plans.
Molintas said during the meeting Representatives from the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) were also present to give input on the state of town in the BLISTT.
Only two areas were identified as fragile by the DOT and the Palace meriting the set up of the task force.
Molintas said another concern during the task force was how to engage the BLISTT in tourism programs which is aimed to jumpstart economic growth for the areas while keeping an environmental balance.
The masterplan will work around existing set-ups in each area and will work from there to make the areas both environmentally sound as well as tourism friendly.
More meetings for the task force will continue within the year as the deadline nears.