The Department of Tourism (DOT) has released the guidelines on the permitted staycation in areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ).
According to Administrative Order No. 2020-06, 4 or 5-star hotels that are not quarantine facilities are allowed to accommodate staycation guests. Said hotels are required to acquire a certificate to operate from the DOT.
Gyms, swimming pools, restaurants, beverage outlets except for bars of the hotels are also permitted to open.
However, cashless transaction is mandatory from the booking to the payment of food. Everyone can have a staycation except for pregnant women and people with comorbidities.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reminded that the guests must present negative antigen results on the same day of their check-in. They will have to pay for the test.
Meanwhile, DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat required “accommodation establishments catering to staycationing guests shall keep a record of occupancy data and submit the same every 10th of the month to relevant DOT Regional Offices and LGU Tourism Offices for data analysis purposes, subject to the provisions of Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations”
However, hotel groups suggested having a system on the specific locations where the guests can receive their rapid antigen tests to make the check-in process easier. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio
