TOURISM CIRCUIT. The Department of Tourism in the Cordillera Administrative Region promotes destinations like this famous spot for bird watching in Alfonso Lista, Ifugao for its "circuit tourism." This type of tourism covers the region's different provinces and takes tourists to different attractions from Baguio City and the flower and vegetable gardens of Benguet, to Mountain Province, Ifugao, Apayao, Kalinga, and Abra provinces. (PNA file photo by Liza T. Agoot)
BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) in the Cordillera Administrative Region urged tourists to try "circuit tourism" in the region featuring its food, culture, nature, and other destinations.
Jovita Ganongan, regional director of the DOT-CAR, in a telephone interview on Sunday night, said their office has prepared a circuit tourism destination that loops between the different provinces and this city.
“We are now developing new products in the region and strengthening old ones. We have tourism products that are anchored on nature, culture, and adventure,” she said.
She said the circuit includes the vegetable and flower farms along the Halsema Highway traversing Benguet’s capital town La Trinidad towards the flower gardens of Atok municipality and the vegetable farms in Buguias.
It will lead straight to Mountain Province where the newly re-opened Mt. Data Hotel can serve as an overnight stop or a destination in itself.
Leading further to the north is the famous Sagada which offers natural attractions like caves and waterfalls, and a majestic sunrise view. From there, tourists can take a less than three-hour drive to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization world heritage site Ifugao rice terraces.
“There are so many activities that we have in the pipeline now,” Ganongan said.
She said that the DOT has also included the moto caravan which starts in Baguio City then goes to Atok farms, and makes a stop in Bauko, before heading to Banaue in Ifugao.
“The TIEZA (Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority) has re-opened Mt. Data Hotel, which now will serve as a crucial tourism facility that could host domestic and international tourism which will benefit not only the tourism industry of Mountain Province and the Cordillera but the entire country as well,” she said. (PNA)
