MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DOT) is trying to jumpstart domestic tourism by identifying key tourist destinations that will be classified under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), in cooperation with the Inter-Agency Taskforce on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
In 2018, the tourism industry made up 12.7 percent of the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) and provided 5.4 million jobs for Filipinos. Last year, the tourism industry achieved a new milestone of 8.26 million foreign tourists.
However, in the first four months of 2020, the DOT recorded a 54 percent decrease in foreign arrivals.
The DOT believes early preparation will help the tourism sector transition properly and safely. DOT is currently targeting residents from nearby places that are already placed under GCQ as potential tourists.
Visiting tourists will have to follow LGU Issuances on strict entry guidelines.
“It is important that we embrace the new normal and equip our industry stakeholders with the appropriate tools and knowledge to recover and succeed in the post-lockdown era,” said Secretary Puyat.
“The safety and well-being of both tourists and residents alike has always been the priority of the DOT. In our Tourism Response and Recovery Plan (TRRP), we have prepared initial safety plans and protocols for travelers and tourism enterprises for the new normal in travel following the community quarantine.”
Some safety measures defined in the TRRP:
1. Regular sanitation and disinfection of accommodation (hotels, resorts, etc.), tourist transport services, and tourism-related establishments such as meeting and exhibit venues, restaurants, spas, and the like.
2. Provision of sanitation/ disinfecting devices, including PPEs, for our tourism workers.
3. Regular inspections of tourism establishments that will involve relevant agencies in relation to health and safety standards such as the DOH.
4. Implementation of physical distancing measures for tourist transportation and limiting the customer capacity of accommodation and tourism-related enterprises.
