Baguio, neighboring towns to craft tourism plan

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet  --  Baguio and its neighboring towns were given one year to draw up a tourism roadmap.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Tourism Cordillera director Purificacion Molintas said, has given them a year to craft a tourism masterplan for Baguio and neighboring towns.

Task Force BLISTT (Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay) will now be more active, focusing on the development of these sites.

Tourism projects, however, have had to contend with a number of environmental concerns, prompting the Department of Environment Natural Resources to rule that such projects should secure the agency's approval first.

The task force is now looking for ways to help  BLISTT areas engage in tourism programs that  would both boost economic development and keep a sustainable environmental conditions.

The masterplan will work around existing set-ups in each area to ensure  environmentally- sound as well as tourism-friendly projects. - Artemio A. Dumlao