The Department of Tourism in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DOT-CAR) is calling on traditional massage therapy practitioners to help promote the practice in a bid to be included among products and services in wellness tourism.

“We have a gisgisto, kulkulis, and the dagdagay, which are traditional massage (techniques) in the Cordillera that we can promote and be like Thailand that has its traditional massage that has become a wellness tourism product sought after by tourists,” DOT-CAR director Jovita Ganongan told the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday.

Gisgisto is a Kankanaey word, or the dialect of people from the Mountain Province, which means head massage, while kulkulis and dagdagay are foot message techniques using a special stick.

“We used to have it at Mt. Data Hotel as a come-on. We are calling on those who used to do the massage so that we can revive and offer it again,” Ganongan said.

Mt. Data Hotel is an accommodation facility owned and managed by the DOT.

Ganongan said they have asked the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in the region to help produce a curriculum for this practice, to include this as a special trade skills offering.

“There are now few practitioners but we are working on reviving the practice not just for tourism promotion but also to revive a part of our tradition and culture in the Cordillera,” she said.

Wellness tourism

Ganongan said wellness tourism has a huge potential with travel viewed by many as a rest and a relaxation option from the toxic daily routine.

“The essence of travel is to rest, to take a break from the routine activity, to rejuvenate the mind, the body, and the spirit and we want to add more activities for the wellness of the travelers,” the director explained.

She said that wellness tourism started before the pandemic with the “forest bathing” activity in Baguio City, inviting locals and tourists to take a walk in the forest, under the trees, and commune with nature.

She said the Cordillera offers perfect wellness tourism with its arts, culture, nature and adventure offerings all put together.

“When you commune with nature, immerse with the people, you feel relaxed because you get a new idea. It gives a refreshing feeling when you see the natural beauty of the environment and the hospitality of the people in the Cordillera,” she added. (PNA)