Filipinos want to be closer to nature and are cautious about COVID-19 safety protocols, the country's tourism chief said Monday as leisure travel returns.
Nearly all Filipinos or 96% are concerned with health protocols implemented in travel spots, Tourism Sec.Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said about prevailing pandemic travel trends.
"Ang 96% hinahanap pa din yung health and safety protocols," she said in a public briefing.
Based on a travel survey of the Department of Tourism, Puyat said the following are on top of Filipinos' minds when it comes to traveling: open-air, open space, culture, and heritage.
Filipinos also want to travel in small groups, she added.
"Pinupush natin ngayon ang domestic tourism. Pinupush namin yung nature-based, cultural, farm. Naghahanap din ng farms at culinary tourism," she said.
Following a revival of strict lockdowns in April, it was only this month that the government allowed tourists of all ages in the NCR Bubble—Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal —and areas under Modified General Community Quarantine or MGCQ to travel again provided that travelers below 18 and above 65 years old present a negative COVID-19 test result.
To boost domestic travel, the tourism department is extending its 50% subsidy for RT-PCR tests of local travelers.
Reportr is now on Quento. Download the app on iOS and Android or visit the Quento website for more articles and videos from Reportr and your favorite websites.
