Glassway in La Trinidad not an official tourist site

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Following criticism from residents and netizens over the so-called “Glassway Attraction,” the La Trinidad local government unit, through the La Trinidad Tourism Office, clarified that the structure is not an official tourism site.

Municipal Tourism Officer Valred Olsim confirmed that the project is a private business investment and was not initiated or developed by the local government unit. Official records show that the site remains unregistered as a tourism attraction.

The local government unit also clarified that it does not operate tourism sites within the municipality. All attractions are privately managed, except for the Strawberry Farm, which falls under the jurisdiction of Benguet State University. While the government oversees public lands and state-funded infrastructure, officials noted that private landowners retain control over developments on their own property.

The project recently drew online criticism after photos were shared by a content creator, with some netizens questioning the use of foreign design concepts. Others claimed the structure was copied from a tourist attraction in Vietnam.

Olsim defended the developers, saying that adopting international business concepts is not prohibited by law. He added that many local establishments, including parks and swimming pools, frequently adapt Western themes and that the developers do not deserve public backlash.

Although the Tourism Office was not initially consulted, a representative of the project proponents met with local officials on Wednesday to begin coordination. Olsim urged individuals planning tourism-related businesses to coordinate with the local government unit during the early stages of development so authorities can provide guidance on safety, security, and environmental standards.

The Tourism Office said it remains open to partnering with private developers to promote local tourism, but emphasized that early communication is necessary to ensure compliance with municipal tourism standards.