Baguio tourism suffers 50-percent decline

BAGUIO CITY — Tourist arrivals to this mountain city may have declined by as much as 40–50% amid rising fuel prices, Mayor Benjamin Magalong confirmed, with the slowdown weighing on the local hospitality sector.

Magalong said higher transport costs have dampened travel demand, particularly from Luzon’s lowland markets, which account for the bulk of visitors to Baguio.

Industry groups reported a corresponding drop in bookings. Andrew Pinero, spokesperson for the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio, said reservations among member establishments have fallen by around 30% since early March, with some operators seeing weaker walk-in traffic.

To mitigate the impact, hotels and restaurants have introduced price-led promotions, including discounted room rates, bundled accommodation and dining packages, and value-added offers such as free meals and extended stays, aimed at sustaining occupancy and customer spending.

Pinero said the group expects demand to remain soft in the near term if fuel prices stay elevated, although ongoing promotions are intended to partially offset the decline and maintain business activity while awaiting a recovery in travel demand.