MANILA, PHILIPPINES – In light of recently reported community transmissions of COViD-19, the Department of Tourism (DOT) calls on all tourism industry stakeholders to remain calm, to be constantly updated and to report suspected cases to local health authorities.
The DOT defers to the Department of Health (DOH) as lead agency of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, for decisions and announcements pertaining to the COVID-19 concern.
Needless to say, the DOT has the safety and well-being of visitors and locals as its utmost priority.As such, it will continue to coordinate and work closely with the IATF, partners from other government agencies and the private sector to mitigate the impact of the disease.
ATM: DOT convenes the Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC) in an emergency meeting to discuss measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 to the tourism industry.
The TCC is a 25-agency body created under R.A. 9593 (Tourism Act of 2009) with the DOT Secretary as the Chairperson. pic.twitter.com/ugkvWaNB6L
— Visit Philippines (@TourismPHL) March 4, 2020
The DOT continuously issues health protocols for the airports, hotel establishments and tour operators to cascade guidelines to make sure that precautionary measures are in place in order to contain the spread of the virus in the country. Among those measures include thermal scanners at the entrance, provision of hand sanitizers and food preparation based on global Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) standards. DOT-accredited hotels are continuously cleaning and sanitizing premises, particularly the common and frequently used areas.
Tourists are directed to visit the DOT’s travel advisory bulletin at www.philippines.travel/
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat likewise enjoins the industry to extend any assistance possible to affected tourists in their respective areas.
