DOT promoting domestic travel despite COVID-19 cases | Inquirer News

DOT promoting domestic travel despite COVID-19 cases

/ 04:56 AM March 10, 2020

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) will continue to promote travel to domestic destinations even after the Philippines has confirmed cases of local transmission of the new coronavirus.

Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said the DOT listens to the advisories of the Department of Health (DOH), but it was continuing with its plan to promote domestic tourism.

“We need to understand that there has been a slowdown in the entry of foreign tourists, our usual source market. What we need to do is to keep tourism activities going especially in local communities,” Bengzon said at a press briefing in Malacañang.

Article continues after this advertisement

Shifting to local tourism would help hotels, resorts, restaurants, and workers like boatmen and souvenir sellers to continue their operations, he said.

FEATURED STORIES

“The instruction of [Tourism] Secretary [Berna] Puyat is to push for domestic tourism so that the establishments are able to operate at a viable level. That would continue,” he said.

President Duterte himself had called on the public to visit the various destinations throughout the country.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Chief Executive himself was supposed to visit top tourist sites, but it was not clear yet if the schedule would push through.

Article continues after this advertisement

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he would bring up the issue of promoting domestic tourism when he meets again with the interagency task force to discuss their messaging.

Article continues after this advertisement

Duque said the agreement between the DOH, DOT and Department of the Interior and Local Government to encourage people to visit different areas of the country was reached before the Philippines confirmed its first case of the localized transmission of COVID-19 on March 5.

According to Duque, the department had agreed that it was fine to go to crowded places as long as precautionary measures are followed. For instance, hotels should have enough disinfectants and should use thermal guns to check guests for fever, he said. INQ

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.

TAGS: COVID-19, DoT, NcoV

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.