Tagaytay feasibility for tourism needs reevaluation

TAGAYTAY, Philippines — Tourism stakeholders remain hopeful that the Tagaytay tourism sector would remain resilient, but said the feasibility of the destination as an area for tourism is something that needs to be reevaluated.

“In the short term, it really needs to be seen how feasible Tagaytay is for the next few weeks to months as the situation is still volatile,” Tourism Congress of the Philippines president Jose Clemente III told The STAR.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) advised earlier all tourism enterprises operating in areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption to immediately cease operations, to ensure safety of both tourists and tourism workers.

At present, the Taal Volcano remains under alert level four warning by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), which means an eruption is imminent.

The DOT said earlier that the tourism industry in the CALABARZON region, particularly in Tagaytay City, has suffered a  tremendous setback from the eruption of the Taal Volcano.

Asked how the Tagaytay tourism industry can make up for the losses caused by the current situation, Clemente said this is still a difficult question to answer since the volcanic activity continues.

“In the long run, the question needs to be asked if Tagaytay will still be feasible, if there is a massive eruption,” Clemente said.

“This will definitely impact if the city can still be salvaged. Of course, we continue to hope and pray that the situation calms down and that, eventually, Tagaytay can once more be a place where tourism can thrive,”he said.

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) said the biggest impact of the Taal Volcano eruption is on the hotel and wedding industry, then on the the tourism industry in general. 

“We have gathered from fellow travel agents and the DOT in its recent statement, that the travel and tourism industry in Tagaytay City has suffered immensely because of the current situation,” PTAA President Ritchie Tuano said.

He added that they haven’t determined exact numbers in terms of losses in the tourism industry.

“Even so, all of us are hopeful that tourism in the entire surrounding region will prove its resilience and recover from this present situation,”Tuano added.

The DOT emphasized earlier the continued health, safety and welfare of workers and tourists remain a top priority as authorities have not downgraded the advisory on an imminent eruption.

While some establishments continue to push for the resumption of their operations, the DOT called on tourism stakeholders in affected areas to strictly heed the advise of agencies handling the natural disaster.

“The DOT trusts that the local government unit, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council(MDRRMC), and other concerned agencies will seek guidance from the DOST-PHIVOLCS to ensure the safety of our tourists and employees in their decision to resume operations in Tagaytay,” the DOT said.