Baguio City is looking to reopen its doors to tourists under a tourism bubble with nearby provinces to halt economic losses due to the COVID-19 quarantine, its mayor said Thursday.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong, also the country's tracing czar, said he would meet with governors of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union. A testing and triage system for vistors from Metro Manila needs to be set up before Baguio can accept tourists from the capital.
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The city government is also awaiting guidelines from the Department of Health on antigen testing, a new technology that delivers results in 15 minutes, he said.
Baguio announced in early August that there were plans to reopen to tourists come September if the modified enhanced community quarantine is downgraded to a looser classification. The plan will require tourists to book their visit in advance and undergo testing and triage upon arrival. Tourists also had to inform staff of their whereabouts and must be accompanied at all times.
