The Department of Tourism said Thursday it was coordinating with local government officials to begin a "safe but sure" reopening of tourist spots. Boracay and Baguio will lead the restart next week.
Coronavirues quarantines that have been in place since March led to a 75% drop in international arrivals. Of the 5.7 million tourism industry workers, 4.8 million either lost their jobs or took pay cuts, Tourism Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.
Puyat said the discussions include lifting the travel prohibition on seniors (60 years old and above) and minors (below 20 years old). It's unavoidable for Filipinos who travel as families to bring the elderly and the kids along when they travel, she said.
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"Yun ang tinatrabaho natin, unti-unting magsimula ang turismo. Safe but sure, unti-unti, kakausapin natin ang mga LGUs na pumayag silang magbukas ang turismo (That's what we are working on, restart tourism slowly. Safe but sure, we will talk with LGUs)," Puyat told TeleRadyo.
Baguio will reopen under a bubble that allows unly those within the Ilocos Region. Boracay on the other hand is opening past its own bubble. With nearly the entire country under the lowest quarantine, MGCQ, tourism could resume with strict precautions, Puyat said.
Visitors to Boracay and Baguio must show proof that they tested negative for the disease in a swab or RT-PCR test two to three days before travel, she said.
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