Baguio City Sees Great Tourism Prospects Despite Rainy Season

Baguio City’s tourism industry still has bright prospects this season of typhoons and monsoon rains, as the cold weather and occasional rains are perfect for romantic getaways, weddings and honeymoons, as well as for meetings, conventions and conferences.

Department of Tourism-Cordillera (DOT-CAR) Regional Director Pura Molintas, in an interview, said the tourism sector is into the promotion of weddings and honeymoons, as the usual ‘June Bride’ season is now shifting to the colder months in Baguio, starting from July to December.

She added, they are also into the promotion of “MICE” or Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibition, as Baguio has the perfect venues such as hotels, restaurants and other amenities in addition to the cold weather that the visitors can enjoy.

Various hotels and restaurants in the city offer promotional gimmicks and discounts during this rainy season that Baguio visitors could look forward to, she said.

Molintas said a check with hotels on their occupancy status indicated that coming in during this rainy season are those having meetings, corporate planning, conferences and small conventions.

“We are also now in the planning board studying the Middle East market. As you can see in the Middle East, there is no rain so if we have visitors from that part of the world, they can enjoy the rain as much as we Filipinos would like to enjoy snow, which we also miss here in the country. So we hope to start targeting the Middle East market starting with families and young couples,” Molintas added.

Events in the city include the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB)-sponsored Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism (HRT) Weekend on September 6 to 8, Baguio City’s 103rd Charter Day Anniversary on September 1.

The HRT weekend, an annual event dubbed, “Largest and Most Credible Culinary showdown” in the North, will feature this year the “Largest Wedding Cake.”

This September 1, marks the city’s 103rd charter anniversary which will be highlighted by Charter Day program and parade. This also ushers in month-long events and activities.

Other annual activities scheduled in Baguio before the year ends are the Philippine Mines Environment and Safety Week in November and the Fil-Am Golf from November to December. (JDP/Carlito C. Dar-PIA CAR)