Sagada as “walking town” pushed

PLANS to make Sagada town in Mountain Province into a walking town was welcomed by Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo.

Sagada Mayor James Pooten bared a successful meeting with Romulo after interventions to make tourism more sustainable in the highland town.

Pooten said stakeholders submitted to the DOT a detailed report on how the local government responded to the call of the department to manage arrivals, traffic congestion and guidelines for tourists.

The mayor said Romulo was satisfied with the actions taken and welcomed the plan to make the town a walking hub for visitors.

Walking is now being urged by the chief executive to minimize congestion in an effort make the area free from obstruction.

Pooten also asked the DOT for tour guide trainings, accreditations of hostels, and proper equipment for the guides which the department assured to provide for the over 800 guides in the town and six tour guide associations.

The new guidelines were set by Pooten after 4,000 arrivals plagued the town one long weekend last year creating a stir which prompted the DOT to intervene.

The new rules were implemented December and has since been successful, mandating tours in and around Sagada to be run by

the local guides' organizations and for travel agencies, groups, and individuals must register for the tours at the Tourist Information Office.

The new rules also indicate a limited number of tourists allowed per site per day with all tours requiring a tour as well as banning entry to those without a registered companion.

Only local transport is now allowed to ferry tourists to tour sites so as not to create traffic in tourist destinations mandating.

Tourist vehicles are required to park their vehicles all throughout the duration of their stay in their hotel parking area or in pay parking areas and avail of the local transport when visiting the different sites.

Tourists will also be obliged to walk around town to visit shops, restaurants, and nearby tourist spots.

On accommodations in the town, only LGUregistered and DOT-accredited hostels, inns or homestays under the Sagada Inns and Hotels Association (SIHA) will be allowed to operate.