A NUMBER of tourism properties in the Tagaytay and rest of Cavite are opting to remain closed while they face uncertainties in the eruption of Taal Volcano, which spewed plumes of harmful fumes and ash on Sunday.
A number of these properties said they were still unsure about the impact of the eruption on their bottom line as the situation is still developing, but the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported some 4.22 million day tourists, and 982,120 overnight guests in Tagaytay alone in 2018.
As of press time, the DOT had yet to comment on the eruption’s impact on the tourism industry of the Calabarzon. In 2018, overnight tourists in the region reached 7.48 million, with Batangas accounting for 34 percent of total arrivals or 2.55 million. Cavite, in which Tagaytay is located, received 1.08 million overnight tourists that same year.
The DOT failed to release tourism receipts figures for the region.
Meanwhile, in a statement sent to the BusinessMirror, Discovery Country Suites General Manager Janice Tiambeng said the property “will remain closed indefinitely, until the situation normalizes. Guests with future reservations are being contacted, to facilitate alternative arrangements.” The luxury bed and breakfast perched along the Tagaytay ridge has seven themed suites and a popular restaurant, Verbena, often visited by day tourists for breakfast and lunch.
She said during Sunday’s eruption, “the hotel’s emergency plan was implemented, and all guests and staff have been assisted with the evacuation.” A total of 27 guests and staff were evacuated from the property on Sunday. She added, for the first quarter of 2020, the property has a lot of guest bookings. “We are averaging a 90-percent occupancy on weekends and a 60-percent occupancy on weekdays.”
Len Reyes, master roaster of Gourmet Farms in Silang, Cavite, said their property, which is planted with vegetables and herbs supplying its onsite restaurant, as well as supermarkets was “affected” by the ashfall from Taal Volcano. Its restaurant, another popular dining outlet for tourist stopovers going to and coming from Tagaytay, is “closed for now.” He said the company had yet to determine the impact of the eruption on its income: “[It] depends on developments.”
Properties of the SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC) “remain operational” and are accepting bookings despite the ongoing calamity. Pico Sands Hotel in Nasugbu, Batangas, has full service for its guests, while the historic Taal Vista Hotel along the Tagaytay ridge has “limited service only because the pool is closed and viewing deck is closed.” A la carte meals are currently offered instead of buffet service for meals.
SMHCC Executive Vice President Peggy E. Angeles said they don’t see the eruption having any major impact on the company’s bottomline this year. “We do not foresee this situation affecting our future business until the end of the year,” she said.
She admitted, however, that the financial projections for both properties “were quite strong” for the first quarter, before the eruption. “This will definitely set us back, but there is opportunity to recover as the business projections for 2020 remain positive.”
As of 9:20 p.m. on Sunday, the 261-room Taal Vista had 40-percent occupancy, while the 154-room Pico Sands had 20-percent occupancy. “Our occupancy levels as expected remain quite volatile for this week as we continue to monitor the situation.” She added there was no need to evacuate guests on Sunday as “some opted to check out ahead of schedule to return to their residence.”
Other than ashfall, there was no major damage reported on any of these properties.
On Sunday, Taal Vista had a sizable number of guests as the volcano sent up plumes of smoke into the sky. Many tourists thought the situation was not serious and even took selfies on the hotel’s view deck with the erupting volcano in the background. (See, “DOT asks tourists to consider leaving Tagaytay, Calabarzon areas as Taal erupts,” in the BusinessMirror, January 12, 2020.)