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‘Drive tourism’ jumpstarts Ilocos Norte tourism recovery

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By Leilanie G. Adriano (Staff Reporter)

LAOAG CITY—Following the successful staging of the maiden drive-in concert at the La Paz sand dunes in this city, the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office arranged another “drive tour” featuring this time the scenic Solsona-Apayao road, an emerging highway tourism destination in the province even before the COVID-19 lockdown.

Located between the boundaries of Brgys. Manalpac in Solsona town, and Butao in Calanasan, Apayao, some 40 kilometers from this city, provincial tourism officer Aianree Raquel said that they managed fully booked the mountain drive held July 18, 2020.

“We can responsibly enjoy our vast natural landscape by following health and safety protocols,” said Mr. Raquel while enjoining interested individuals or groups to register and avail of some freebies with live performances from partner event hosts or sponsors.

For the Ilocos-Cordillera drive tour, the provincial government made 70 slots available, inclusive of coffee and ube cheese pandesal.

For those who have no personal ride, partner tour operators and optional tours are also available with a minimal fee ranging from PHP500 to PHP850 per person.

All attendees however are required to fill up a personal info sheet for contact tracing purposes and organizers restricted senior citizens and below 21 years from joining the event.

Minimum health standard will also be observed such as wearing of face mask with strict social distancing.

 

‘Hyperlocal’

The COVID-19 pandemic has shutdown big events in Ilocos Norte, forcing tourism frontliners to think about new approaches in resuming its operations during these unprecedented circumstances.

The Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO), however explored a socially distanced way of restoring its pandemic-hit industry with "hyperlocal" pop-up activities targeting Ilokano residents.

"Hyperlocal" is a marketing strategy that targets the population in a specific community with the intention of "driving foot traffic to physical locations."

As a jumpstart to the province's tourism recovery efforts, almost 150 concert-goers attended the "Ilocos Rocks! Park and Chill Drive-in Concert" at the vast dunes of Brgy. Talingaan, this city, on July 10, 2020.

At around 5:00 p.m., 50 units of 4x4 vehicles managed by the Laoag Sand Dunes Service Cooperative, were parked at the desert while watching the performance of Better than Noise set against the fabled sunset of the "Sunshine City of Laoag."

According to INTO, the series of outdoor pop-up activities aim to promote the re-opening of local tourist destinations and help tourism stakeholders earn again.

In the case of the sunset drive-in concert, hired 4x4 drivers earned PHP300 per passenger, setting a limit of four people on the vehicle. Sandboarding and off-road tour were included in the ride package.

Guided by Executive Order 78-20, the re-opening of public spaces such as parks, beaches, and resorts, among others, are allowed as long as it adheres to minimum health protocols and crowd control.

Among protocols imposed during the drive-in concert include the wearing of face mask, a strategic queuing mechanism during the sandboarding activity, remaining inside the vehicles for the entire concert period, and banning alcoholic beverage consumption and communal dining. (Blessing Angel V. Agliam)

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