Tourism frontliners to be tapped to conduct the Baguio Historical Tour

by Lito Dar

Baguio City (1 August) — In line with city’s centennial celebration, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in cooperation with the Baguio Centennial Commission and the city government, will be training 40 qualified tourism frontliners to enhance their skills in handling visitors to the various event lined-up for the centennial celebration, starting with the scheduled Tourism Summit, this August.

TESDA, under its Pangulong Gloria Scholarship Program, will sponsor 40 qualified participants to a three -day seminar, slated on August 6-8.

DOT Regional Director and Cordillera Association of Regional Executives (CARE) President Purification Molintas said these frontliners will also be tapped to conduct the Baguio Historical Tour around the city’s tourist spots from August to December.

In relation to tourism, director Molintas stressed that the government is working hard, through effective planning and efforts to establish highways, airports and seaports. “Malaki kasi ang epekto nitonito sa turismo, and to boost our economy,” she said. In Cordillera, presidential projects such as the Halsema Highway and the Baguio-Banaue road are a big boost to tourism, she added.

In the State Of the Nation Address (SONA), delivered by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, she reported that in the last four years, tourism almost double, as it is now a $5 Billion industry.

To boost local tourism for Baguio and its surrounding municipalities, Molintas also confirmed that airline company Sea Air will soon be starting to service Baguio (from Poro Point) and practice flight is scheduled on August 21.

Centering at Baguio as a tourism hub, the tourism department is also working to increase international flights. According to Molintas, they are working to establish an international flight from Central Korea to San Fernando International Airport and probably to Poro Point.

“We are now just waiting for a technical requirement, for the flight from Central Korea to San Fernando International Airport to push through. For Poro Point, there are already initial talks/discussions,” Molintas said. (PIA)