Skip to main content

Ridge to reef: Ilocos Norte to start welcoming tourists from Northern Luzon

By

 


Laoag City—Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc has committed to the opening of the "Northern Luzon Tourism Corridor," an initiative of chief executives and tourism councils in Northern Luzon to cushion the impact of COVID-19 across tourism industries.

Preparing for the resumption of tourism by rolling out a rehabilitation plan, the provincial governments of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan, and the city government of Baguio have collaborated to prioritize the livelihood rehabilitation of their constituents while guaranteeing the overall safety of tourists and spurring again tourism-related economic activities.

 "We started discussing the 'Tourism Bubble' concept together with 'the Department of Tourism (DOT) and counterparts in Region I and Baguio City, as well as other tourism officers in the country because at that time, very early in May,  there was no clear reference about how to address the impact of the pandemic," explained Aian B. Raquel, Ilocos Norte's provincial tourism officer.

Chief executives and tourism councils have mutually agreed to promote each other's tourism attractions among local communities, underscoring the importance of ensuring tourists' and residents' safety.

Earlier today, Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, Ilocos Sur 2nd District Rep. Kristine Singson Meehan, Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis Singson, Ilocos Norte Gov. Mathew Joseph Marcos Manotoc, Pangasinan Gov. Amado I. Espino III, and La Union Gov. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega, who was represented by Department of Tourism (DOT) Region I Regional Director Joseph Francisco Ortega signed a memorandum of understanding, at the Baguio Country Club.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Government, through the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO), has been working on the province's guidelines; consulting with top doctors and medical frontliners, alongside accommodation establishments organizations, tour guides, and tour operators, and other tourism stakeholders to produce dynamic tour programs flexible to its current public health situation.

"Our reopening is gradual, carefully planned with strict policies, and our program is nimble and responsive to the changing situations caused by the pandemic. We must open slowly, safely, and surely," Mr. Raquel stressed.

 

Rebuilding confidence to travel

To continue promoting the province as a trusted destination, Ilocos Norte is developing the "Safe Travel Application for You in Ilocos Norte" or Stay IN web application that guides incoming tourists to comply with pre-arrival requirements and in booking only accredited accommodation and tour operators. This online platform is in collaboration with Information Technology experts of the Mariano Marcos State University.

Mr. Raquel said tourist arrival involves a strict pre-registration, observance of the medical triage, and SOP for hotels and tour operators. Further, tour programs are "highly controlled" as these were designed so that tourists will have minimal exposure to communities.

Recently, INTO also initiated "hyperlocal" activities; a marketing strategy that targets the population in a specific community to drive foot traffic to physical locations, such as a drive-in concert at the Laoag City Sand Dunes and along the Ilocos Norte-Cordillera highway.

"We want a reboot or rethinking of our tourism industry in the province and see how we can become even more sustainable in the new normal," Mr. Raquel mused.

On the second week of September, Ilocos Norte will host tourism officials and stakeholders from Baguio-La Union-Pangasinan-Ilocos Sur-Ilocos Norte (BLUPISIN) Technical Working Group for finalization of guidelines and site inspections.

On September 21, 2020, Ilocos Norte contingents will go to Baguio City for a public show of the province's tourism offerings. Likewise, on October 1, the province will launch initial tours of incoming tourists from outside Ilocos Norte. (Edison Justin B. Deus)

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

By
 Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said.    Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel more secured
Post a Comment
Read more

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By
By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua
9 comments
Read more

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

By
BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy.   18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi
Post a Comment
Read more