An Assessement of Baguio's Tourist Destinations

By: Pam Gutierrez and Leslie Tagala

Baguio City’s mix of natural beauty, refreshing climate, and distinctive physical endowments continue to appeal to tourists, whether foreign or domestic.

Art Alahambra, Tourist Information Center Officer said that tourism in the City continues to flourish.

“From what I know, the City Council has various ordinances and resolutions to be able to maintain these tourist destinations,” he said.

He cited an ordinance about making Botanical Garden a tree nursery and also mentioned that he knows of a resolution as well that was espoused by Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez regarding the landscaping and preservation of Burnham Park.

He added that tourist spots are declared based on three standards. First, it must be well funded, well attended, and there must be many resources.

Last October 3, Wednesday, we had the chance to visit Botanical Garden, Burnham Park, Mines View, and Wright Park. We strolled around to take time off our busy academic lives and at the same time observed how these places are doing in terms of maintaining the beauty of its environment.

After the short visit we paid to these places, we have concluded three things.

First, they are not as colorful as before. Second, its resources have been diminishing, and lastly people are still visiting these places but they are not well attended.

For instance, Burnham Park and Wright Parks’ surroundings have been unpleasant as of late. Meanwhile, in Botanical Garden and Mines View, it seemed like nothing has changed but as observers, we could say that the aura of the places are better before.

We thought, “Is this the so-called flourishing of tourism in Baguio?”

It cannot be denied that Baguio is still one of the prime tourist destinations in the country even though through the years it has suffered problems of urbanization resulting to the degradation of the environment.

Somehow, the City Government of Baguio has been implementing measures to be able to revive these tourist spots.

However, are they effective so far?

Based from an observers’ point of view, efforts need to be doubled and eventually the City’s diverse attractions could be colorful as it was before.