Stakeholders in the hotel and restaurant industry here are confident that the holidays next week will further help shorten the local tourism industry’s projected recovery period from the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) spokesperson Andrew Pinero said accommodation establishments like homestays and transient houses are expecting a brisk business, with many are 90 percent booked while others are already fully booked.

“We are bracing ourselves for the very long weekend,” he told the Philippine News Agency on Monday.

Pinero, who is also the client and members relation manager of the Baguio Country Club, said the projected five-year recovery period for hotels and other accommodation establishments here has been shortened to three years following the revenge travel experienced in 2022.

“The year 2022 broke the record in terms of accommodation. This was the time when despite typhoons and during weekdays, we get tourists,” he said.

Pinero said the goal now is not just to recover but also to have the funds that will allow the accommodation establishments to improve their facilities and to continue hiring staff.

“We have about 60 regular employees who have opted to leave the city for good and go back to their provinces and we are filling up their positions. Some of these are management positions,” he added.

The weekend starts from Oct. 28. Malacañang has declared Oct. 30 a non-working day to allow Filipinos to cast their votes in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

Nov. 1 or All Saints’ Day is a regular holiday while Nov. 2 (All Souls’ Day) is a special holiday. The observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day is known as Undas.

Pinero advised the public to check the list of accredited accommodations from the Baguio Tourism Council to prevent them from being victimized by unscrupulous individuals.

“Nakakaiyak iyong nagbayad ka tapos pagdating mo, wala kang matulugan (It’s frustrating to have paid for a space but once you got here, you have nowhere to stay),” he said. (PNA)