With over 50,000 visitors flocking to Baguio City to witness the return of the Panagbenga Festival, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is hopeful that the City of Pines will lead the country's recovery from the pandemic.
After the grand float parade on Sunday, DOT Secretary Christina Frasco said that after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, Baguio is indeed back.
According to Frasco, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. envisions the Philippines' tourism transformation.
As a result, she stated that people can expect a whole-of-government approach to tourism development, not only in Baguio but also in the rest of the regions.
The Panagbenga Festival began as a community effort to assist the city in its recovery from the devastation caused by the magnitude 7.8 Luzon earthquake on July 16, 1990.
Since its inception in 1996, the event has grown to become a major tourism driver in northern Luzon as well as a world-renowned celebration.
Panagbenga is a flowering season.
DOT's plans to include the launch of the "Philippine Experience" project.
According to Frasco, the program's goal is to expose tourists not only to tourist destinations but also to living and cultural traditions.
Furthermore, Frasco stated that the DOT is working with local government units to improve all aspects of connectivity, including land transportation, in order to improve the overall experience of visiting tourism sites.
Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos, who was in Baguio for the event, stated that things are looking up with the Panagbenga Festival.
