Stakeholders in the tourism industry here have begun offering promotions and discounts to draw in more visitors as summer tourism numbers decline.

Andrew Pinero, spokesperson of the Hotel and Restaurant Association in Baguio (HRAB) and client relations manager of the Baguio Country Club, said they are experiencing a dip in reservations, guests and occupancy, which began after Panagbenga, when fuel prices started to increase.

“We have come up with appealing promos for the Holy Week for members and guests so that they would choose to stay in the club when they come to Baguio,” he said in an interview on Monday.

Starting from roughly 50 percent occupancy, their staff’s telemarketing increased it to about 80 percent, but only for Holy Week, he noted.

Other member establishments are also offering discounts on accommodations along with other perks to entice clients to book with them.

“About the other weeks of the summer season, that is a challenge to us,” he said.

He also mentioned that with a limited number of clients, establishments have begun closing some outlets inside their facilities to cut down on power and manpower, promoting the use of leave credits.

The issue, however, is whether the employee has exhausted all of his or her available leave.

“Hopefully, it does not reach that point when workers have to render fewer days,” he said.

Specifically, for Baguio Country Club, Pinero said higher-ranking employees have agreed to a salary deduction — 25 percent for the general manager, 15 percent for senior managers and department heads and 10 percent for division heads.

“We voluntarily agreed on that to cut operational costs and sustain the operation rather than all of us losing our jobs,” Pinero shared.

He said they saw a drop after Panagbenga, which was unusual because the trend in the past was for tourism numbers to increase during the festival, then grow even more during summer, and decline slightly from May to June.

The official reported that summer occupancy is at least 80 percent, reaching as high as 90 percent on weekends, but it is currently around 40 percent.

“The industry is struggling, and when it faces difficulties, many workers in the tourism industry, particularly those in the accommodation sector, are affected as well,” he added. (PNA)