Any takers? DoT OKs ‘staycations’ in GCQ areas

MANILA, Philippines — Hotels in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) may soon accept guests who want to go on “staycation” amid the new coronavirus pandemic.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the government had agreed to allow “staycations” in areas under GCQ, as long as the guest would be staying in hotels near his home that are authorized to operate.

Puyat said the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on Thursday approved the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) recommendation to allow staycations in GCQ areas “to explore various ways in restarting tourism activities during quarantine.”

“The DOT will soon issue a memorandum circular on staycations under GCQ based on comments and suggestions of the IATF,” Puyat told the Inquirer.

She said the memorandum circular “will have specific regulations on all aspects involved in this activity” such as the maximum allowable number of persons in a guestroom who will use ancillary services such as restaurants and recreational areas.

Puyat said a staycation “shall involve a minimum overnight stay for leisure purposes in a DOT-accredited accommodation enterprise, located in proximity with one’s residence.”

Metro Manila, the hot spot of the pandemic, is under GCQ for the month of September along with Bulacan, Batangas and Tacloban City.

Puyat issued the statement when asked about IATF Resolution 70, which stated that hotels or accommodation establishments in GCQ areas could be allowed to accommodate “markets of specialized programs” of the DOT.