Cebu to open borders for leisure, tourism

CEBU CITY –– Cebu province will soon open its borders for leisure and tourism travels from anywhere in the country.

The opening of its doors to tourists was among those decided during the Cebu Provincial Tourism Task Force meeting called by Gov. Gwen Garcia at the Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 11.

Garcia has constantly been pushing for the revival of the Cebu economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The guidelines for leisure travelers to Cebu province will be finished in one week. The date of the opening will be announced after the guidelines are approved.

Initially, tourists who wish to stay in resorts and hotels will only need to show their pre-booked reservations upon travel. Those who want to join tourism activities or visit sites will need to register ahead at the Capitol’s tourism portal — Discover.Cebu.Gov.PH.

During the meeting, Garcia cited the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of the Community Quarantine in the Philippines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in areas under modified general community quarantine and general community quarantine, where cross-borders are allowed with minimum requirements.

“The reasons could be to go visit some relatives here, for business, or more importantly, for tourism,” the governor said.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, and Department of Health.

The task force will meet again next week with tour operators and shipping and airline companies.