Benguet Provincial Exec Wants Campers Included In Tourist Arrivals Count

Benguet Provincial Board Member Robert Namoro on Thursday, March 31 said the tourism council of Benguet proposed to include campers in the number of tourist arrivals in the Province of Benguet.

The Benguet Provincial Tourism Culture and Arts Council (BPTCAC) which Namoro chairs, observed that the number of “back packers” and campers who explore the mountains and caves in the various towns of the province, increase in number every year.

Namoro explained that “back packers” are tourists who do not spend the night in tourist oriented hotels and inns and most of the time are not registered.

Namoro said most of these tourists pack their own tents and camp near the sites or areas they visit.

The Department of Tourism standard form for reporting tourist arrivals does not provide data on campers, Namoro observed.

Partial data from the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Division reflected a total of 68,501 campers in mountain adventures and private eco-tourism sites, between 2012 and 2015.

The Municipality of Kabayan recorded the highest number of campers with 41,582 being home to Mount Pulag, the second highest mountain in Luzon and is a popular adventure destination.

The Municipality of Tuba has 8,702; Tublay with 6,102 while more than 12,000 campers visited the 10 other Benguet municipalities.

The increase in number of campers is a welcome development as far as tourism is concerned but it has a positive and negative effect which concerned local government units should be ready with, Namoro said.

While it generates income to the community from the environmental and guide fees collected including the food they buy for the duration of their stay, the environment should not be compromised, Namoro explained.

The Province of Benguet is endowed with mountains ideal for trekking, adventures and camping activities including its natural wonders and caves.

Clarita Prudencio, head of the Provincial Tourism Operations Office, in a separate interview, confirmed the observations of Namoro.

Prudencio said that the campers promote tourism in the province by “word-of-mouth” or through the internet using the social media, blogs and other similar forms.

Other places of interest include Mount Ugo and Mount Ulap in Itogon; the “Bakun Trio” (Mount Tenglawan, Mount Kabunian and Mount Lobo; Mount Langob in Kapangan; Mount Kallugong and Mount Jumbo in La Trinidad.

The BPTCAC proposal was favorably endorsed by the Benguet Provincial Board to the Department of Tourism Cordillera Regional Office (DOT-CAR) for consideration and appropriate action. (PNA) LAP/JOJO LAMARIA