DOT, Aklan LGU begin vaccination of tourism workers in Boracay

JAB BY THE SEASIDE: A tourism worker in Boracay Island gets his first Sinovac jab to protect him and other workers who participated in the vaccination program from being infected with the deadly coronavirus. Looking on are (from left) testing czar Sec Vince Dixon and Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat. INQUIRER.net photo / John Eric Mendoza

MALAY, AKLAN — The local government here on Wednesday began the vaccination of tourism workers in Boracay as the island destination gears up for the expected resumption of tourism activities, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.

Tourism Secretary Berna-Romulo Puyat said 500 tourism workers are expected to receive Sinovac shots on the first day of vaccination held at Paradise Garden Resort Hotel and Convention Center.

“Keeping our workforce and tourists safe will be a great leap forward in our ongoing quest to get the tourism industry back on its feet,” Puyat said in her speech during the opening ceremonies.

“Understandably, among the top priorities for tourists traveling during this period are their health and safety,” added Puyat.

“One of the ways we can ensure this is by getting our frontliners vaccinated as soon as possible, to give an extra layer of protection between them and our tourists,” she added.

There are 40,000 tourism workers in Malay, Aklan including the 3,000 tourism workers in Boracay who had been targeted to receive the shots.

Of the 3,000 workers here, there are 2,178 individuals who are employed in accommodation establishments; 308 in restaurants; 140 in tourist transport; and 374 are tourism frontline personnel.

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