The Department of Tourism (DOT) is preparing for the restoration of tourism in the Philippines if several areas will be placed under modified general community quarantine.
Secretary Bernadette Puyat shared that the DOT will focus on domestic travel promotion and the strict implementation of health and safety protocols once the travel to top tourist destinations is relaxed.
Part of the department’s Tourism Response and Recovery Plan is the regular disinfection of hotels and resorts, businesses involving tourism such as exhibit venues, restaurants, spas, and tourist transport services.
Employees of the tourism industry are also obligated to wear PPEs and other equipment against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Regular inspection of establishments will be ensured to guarantee the implementation of the minimum health standards by the Department of Health (DOH). Social distancing will be strictly imposed and the capacity of customers will be limited.
In the department’s recent data, the international arrival of the country has dropped by more than 54 percent in the first 4 months of 2020. Sec. Puyat pointed out that it is important to restore tourism in the Philippines to ensure that displaced Filipinos will be given livelihood. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla
