BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — Tourism stakeholders of Cordillera are urged to sustain the recovery of the region’s tourism industry from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the Cordillera Tourism Summit 2022 held at Baguio Country Club last week, public officials, local tourism officers, regional line agencies , the academe and the private sector convened to discuss opportunities in optimizing the recovery and development of tourism amidst the challenging and changing times.
The Cordillera Tourism Summit 2022 with the theme; “Working Towards Recovery and Sustainability” organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) – Cordillera became a venue to identify strategies for moving forward while navigating the current pandemic and beyond to ensure sustainable tourism development in the region.
In her presentation of the Cordillera Tourism Scenario, DOT-CAR Regional Director Jovita Ganongan presented some key points for a post-pandemic turnaround of the tourism sector in CAR which involves resiliency, recovery and response.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat recognized the role of tourism leaders and partners in bringing the country’s tourism towards moving forward into the new normal.
“All of these best programs and plans would amount to nothing if we didn’t have the support of our local tourism stakeholders, LGUs, CSOs and the private sectors,” Puyat stressed in her virtual message.
“We thank everyone for your useful suggestions and insights to help us get through this pandemic. With your help, the tourism industry of Cordillera will soar once again and even to reach a greater heights,” she added.
Meanwhile, Baguio City Congressman Mark Go put forward things in improving the tourism sector. These are people-centered tourism, tapping local community resources, a collective responsibility on tourism, and a private-sector driven tourism.
“We are re-opening tourism and we are recovering now from the effects of the COVID19 pandemic so it’s time for us to capitalize and bring back the tourism of Cordillera,” Go stated. **JDP/CAGT – PIA CAR
