Tourism in Bauko, Mountain Province

Abstract

This study was conducted for the following objectives: to determine the profile of tourists visiting Barangay Bagnen Proper, Barangay Bagnen Oriente and Barangay Balintaugan; to determine the tourists destinations visited by the tourists; to determine the services availed by the tourists; to determine the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in Barangay Bagnen Proper, Oriente and Balintaugan in terms of the socio-economic contributions; to determine rules and regulations of the LGU and tour operators of tourism in Barangay Bagnen Proper, Oriente and Balintaugan; to identify the plans/support of the LGU during the promotion of tourism in Barangay Bagnen Proper, Barangay Oriente and Barangay Balintaugan; and to provide documentation and features of the different tourist destinations in Bauko, Mountain Province. A total of 100 respondents (20 tourists, 60 residents, 10 tour guides, 10 LGUs) in Barangay Bagnen Proper, Barangay Bagnen Oriente and Barangay Balintaugan were interviewed using questionnaires. Secondary data were obtained from the mayor’s office and from the tourist information center. The findings of the study shows that: all of the tourist mentioned that they have visited Mt. Polis which is the most popular tourist attractions in Bagnen Oriente and was rated as excellent; tourist visit Bagnen and Balintaugan primarily for friend exploration and appreciating the scenery; services availed by the tourist were the presence of visitor information and presence of personal safety; services that LGU have provided are personal safety and friendliness to the visitor; tour guides also provides personal safety and tourist information; employment as tour guides are the most advantage of tourism in the place; disadvantage is detrimental to environment; the contributions of tourism to tour guides were: having a job as a tour guide, skills developed especially in behavioral responsibilities and good leadership ability. Tourism contributions to LGUs were: skills developed in communicating, socialization as officials, opportunities in creating projects; tour guides are always informing the tourist to be alert during the trek because of some dangerous ways; LGUs always reminding tour guides to share what tourists wants to know, to speak in a way that tourist can understand, to be always alert in unexpected accidents, those be always ready and bring of those personal needs, to be always responsible and managing the time properly. Plans of the LGUs to improve tourism industry in Bauko, Mt. Province are the improvement of facilities, obeying tourism ordinance, making more tourism packages, implementing tourism projects and encouraging also businessmen’s for DOT accreditations. Plans/supports of the LGUs in the promotion of tourism in are the development of tourist destinations and improvements of roads, services and facilities. Promotion like creating packages of Bauko Tourism information and making tourism activities like festivals (fiestas).