After five long months of strict border control to fight COVID-19, the City of Baguio will slowly reopen its borders to tourists. But there’s a catch (there’s a few of them actually)—not all tourists from different parts of the Philippines are allowed in just yet. Baguio City will first welcome tourists from Region I only, marking the first inter-region agreement between Baguio and its neighboring Ilocano Provinces (and yes, La Union is part of it).

But before you celebrate and decide to pack your bags to Baguio, you might want to hold off on that for a bit. COVID-19 left a considerable amount of disruption into the “normal” that we used to enjoy in terms of physical interactions, travel, get-togethers, and the like.

With “The New Normal” comes a wave of necessary adjustments to stifle the spread of the virus. Though it seems that the Philippines is close to flattening the curve, the coronavirus remains a threat—and it’s something that we’d all have to learn to live with (by practicing health protocols) until a reliable and effective vaccine is available.

So whether you’re traveling or meeting with friends, it won’t be the same as what we’ve usually done in the past.

rizal park baguio city

PHOTO BY Gelomaics Photography via Wikimedia Commons

Important Details You Need to Consider Before Visiting Baguio City as a Tourist

Popular tourist spots in the city—Burnham Park, Mines View Park, Dominican Heritage Hill & Nature Park, and Wright Park—were opened last September 1 to Baguio locals to signal the gradual resuscitation of the city’s tourism sector.

It’s seen as a divisive idea to Baguio locals, what with the high cases of COVID-19 still ravaging the city, but it’s something that has to be done to revive the city’s ailing tourism sector. After all, tourism plays a key part in Baguio’s local economy. Residents would have to be responsible enough to practice all necessary precautions such as wearing face masks and shields, regularly washing or sanitizing their hands, and avoiding crowded areas.

Baguio City Tourism Officer Engr. Aloysius Mapalo said that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and the respective Mayors, Representatives, and Governors of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and La Union to create a “tourism bubble” between Baguio and the neighboring provinces.

While a specific opening date hasn’t been released, the City Tourism Office of Baguio released strict guidelines that tourists will have to follow upon entering:

  • All tourists will have to pre-register through the Baguio Visitors Information and Travel Assistance (VISITA) online registration platform. VISITA, on the other hand, will only accommodate a limited number of tourists with a controlled itinerary.
  • Upon registering, visitors will then have to provide proof of booking in a hotel that’s accredited by the city’s Tourism Office and LGU. Visiting tourists are not allowed to stay in a friend or relative’s house as a health precaution.
  • Once at the border, visiting tourists will be led to the tourist triage for swab testing at their own expense. They will then have to wait for the results of the test in their respective hotel. Once negative, the visitors may then proceed with their itinerary. But if it turns out positive, they will then be handled strictly by the LGU and the hotel.
  • Tourist itineraries must be produced and assisted by tour agencies who, in turn, will manage their entire itinerary throughout their limited stay in the city. You also have to keep in mind that there are prohibited places to visit within Baguio. You are only allowed to visit the approved itineraries for your stay.

Looking at it broadly, visiting Baguio entails a lengthy (and quite expensive) process. But it’s something that we’d all have to be ready for since it is a part of the new normal.

We do miss those times when we can freely go up to Baguio to enjoy its cool weather and unique ambiance. But until cases in the city and La Union die down, it’s best to forgo traveling for now, lest we run the risk of catching COVID-19 in a place originally intended for our leisure.