Sagada tourists double in 2015

BAGUIO CITY – Was it because it is where broken hearts go?

The number of tourists in Sagada, Mountain Province, rose from 65,000 in 2014 to 138,257 in 2015. Of these, 85% were from the lowlands, mostly from Manila.

The peak months of tourist arrivals were April and May, where 23,307 and 22,030 came, respectively, according to the Sagada tourism office. These figures tie nicely with the fact that the romance movie That Thing Called Tadhana, which featured Baguio City and Sagada, was released in February 2015.

Tours and activities in Sagada require prior registration. So the short period between the movie run and the summer was logically the time it took lowlanders to prepare for their “hugot” (sentimental) trips. 

The movie features the characters of Angelica Panganiban and JM de Guzman as heartbroken tourists who fall in love in such favorite areas in Sagada, like the Kiltepan Viewpoint and Gaia Café.

Funny, but most of the tour guides and residents of Sagada have not watched the Tadhana movie.

In Sagada, you can go spelunking in Sumaguing, Lumyang, and Balangagan. Visitors pay a P35 environmental fee to enter the caves.

Those who want to swim at the Bumod-ok Falls pay P10 to the Bangaan Fidelisan Tanulong Aguid Madongo Pide Guides Association.

December was the 3rd blockbuster month for 2015 in terms of tourist arrivals in Sagada, with 18,355 recorded. 

The months with the fewest tourists were in the rainy months of July (3,235) and September (3,785 tourists). – Rappler.com