BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - The Department of Tourism (DOT) through the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, in partnership with the City Government of Baguio embarks on a Tourist Rest Area (TRA) project that will further enhance the convenience of travel for tourists here .
The DOT headed by Tourism Secretary Christine Garcia – Frasco and TIEZA Chief Operations Officer Mark Lapid and Baguio City officials headed by Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Congressman Mark Go represented by his wife Soledad, signed a memorandum of agreement for the TRA project at the Baguio Convention Center here in December 5.
Officials from both parties along with other guests and Baguio tourism stakeholders, also spearheaded the groundbreaking of the identified TRA site along Kennon Road. It is among the 10 TRA projects in various parts of the country for this year and the first here in Northern Luzon.
Frasco, in her keynote message, outlined that the maintenance of TRAs all over the country is part of the 7 – point tourism industry recovery agenda of the DOT and is in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s vision to enhance the overall tourist experience all over the country.
The Secretary shared that the TRA will not only address the most basic component of every person’s journey which is clean and decent restrooms but it will also serves as an information and pasalubong centers, as well as communication hub for tourists.
“The intention is to give our tourists convenience as they go along with their journey. Understanding that the experience is not only at the destination itself but very much also to the journey itself,” she stressed.
She also affirmed that the country’s tourism industry’s recovery is already on track with tourism receipts already reaching P130 billion this year.
Frasco also gave recognition to Baguio City as one of its LGU partners for the project, given its historical and significant role in promoting the country’s tourism industry amid the pandemic.
“We, at the DOT, recognize the value that Baguio City brings not only in terms of your physical destinations but more importantly, the intangible cultural heritage that you have very well preserved, in this part of the Philippines. Hence, we are here to manifest our full support,” she said.
Magalong and Go in their respective messages, expressed gratitude to the tourism department’s support in pushing forward Baguio City’s tourism industry towards economic recovery in the new normal. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)