Baguio: The city government, in collaboration with the private sector and national government agencies, is undertaking significant efforts to rehabilitate tourist destinations and attractions. The initiative includes organizing more events to attract tourists to the city.
According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Benjamin Magalong emphasized the need for these efforts during a media interview. He highlighted the ongoing improvement of parks and the creation of events designed to entice visitors to Baguio, especially during a time when tourist arrivals have been affected by the fuel crisis resulting from the Middle East conflict.
Mayor Magalong noted that although tourist numbers have been increasing over the past two weeks, they remain below previous levels. He estimated a current decline of about 35 to 40 percent in tourist arrivals, compared to an earlier drop of up to 50 percent.
The rehabilitation of several parks is part of the city's ongoing projects. Sunshine Park recently reopened to the public after months of closure, and Burnham Lake is undergoing enhancements to offer more tourist-friendly amenities, with completion expected following its rehabilitation that began in the last quarter of 2025.
Magalong mentioned that prior to the conflict in Iran, an increase in visitors was noticeable by the congestion levels in the city, which used to escalate by Fridays. The city monitors tourist activity using a color-coded traffic system: green indicates smooth flow, orange suggests moderate congestion, and red signals heavy traffic, typically associated with high tourist arrivals.
Currently, the traffic reports rarely show red indicators, which only appear briefly if at all. Green and orange indicators are predominant, suggesting that road conditions are still manageable and that visitor numbers are below normal levels.
The decline in tourist arrivals is impacting Baguio's economy, especially businesses dependent on tourism. Discussions with accommodation facilities and the Tourism Council have revealed that many hotels and lodging establishments are experiencing very low weekday occupancy rates, with some reporting no occupancy at all. Tourist activity shows improvement only during weekends.
Mayor Magalong continues to invite tourists to visit Baguio, emphasizing that it is an ideal time to explore the city when traffic congestion is not a concern.
