Government Eyes More Local Tourism Bubbles

The government is eyeing the formation of more tourism bubbles around the country, a top Cabinet official said Tuesday, as it seeks to restart leisure travel while avoiding a spike in coronavirus infections.

Cabinet Sec. Karlo Nograles said tourism bubbles are "very important" since some 5.7 million Filipinos are dependent on the industry for their livelihood. These are formed through partnerships among local governments.

"As far as the national government is concerned, we want to establish more tourism bubbles around the country," Nograles said in a press briefing.

Generally, the Philippines only allows tourism activities in areas under modified general community quarantine, limiting the industry's recovery especially after President Rodrigo Duterte rejected a nationwide shift to the lowest form of quarantine or MGCQ.

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Nograles said the Department of Tourism has prepared rules for the formation of more tourism bubbles but noted that the cooperation and acceptance of local government units are needed to make it work.

"May set rules na yan and alam ng DOT (Department of Tourism) what needs to be done to establish that tourism bubbles," Nograles said.

"The establishment of tourism bubbles across the country is very important in light of boosting that industry giving jobs to our people especially in the countryside na dependent on tourism activities," he added.

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