DOT: Travel agents may sell tour packages, but take note of other nations’ restrictions

MANILA, Philippines — Travel agencies may sell tour packages while taking note of the travel restrictions currently in place for inbound and outbound travelers, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Friday.

“’Yung desisyon po kung magbebenta na ng mga tour packages nasa tour operator or nasa travel agent. But we have to keep in mind merong mga travel restrictions pa in and out, Pilipino na palabas tapos doon naman sa mga inbound tourists, ” DOT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(The decision to sell tour packages is up to the tour operators and travel agents. But we have to keep in mind there are travel restrictions in and out, for Filipinos outbound and for inbound tourists.)

“‘Yung mga foreign governments merong mga travel restrictions din sila papunta ng Pilipinas. Syempre hindi lang dito, I think in many different parts of the world,” he added.

(Foreign governments also have travel restrictions going to the Philippines. But not only here, I think in many different parts of the world.)

The government earlier suspended the issuance of visas to foreign nationals worldwide to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Non-Filipino travelers coming from China, Hong Kong, Macau, North Gyeongsang Province, and Cheongdo County in South Korea were also barred from entering the Philippines.

On Thursday, DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat ruled out the possibility of international travel within the year, citing the pending travel restrictions of other nations.

United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said 100% of the world’s global destinations are under travel restrictions as a result of the pandemic.

KGA