93% of Ilocos Norte’s tourism workers now vaccinated vs COVID-19

A tourism worker in Ilocos Norte receives a COVID-19 jab. (Photo courtesy of Ilocos Norte provincial government)

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — At least 2,332, or 93.28-percent of the 2,500 eligible tourism workers in Ilocos Norte province, were already vaccinated against COVID-19, latest data showed.

In a statement on Tuesday, November 9), the provincial government said the vaccination drive of tourism workers is “at pace with the current easing of travel restrictions and with tourists now arriving [in the province] at an increasing daily rate.”

Of the 2500 target workers, a total of 2,121 had already been fully vaccinated against the viral disease while 211 received at least one dose of the vaccine.

In time for the peak holiday season, the provincial government is hiring at least 200 tourism workers to serve as manpower augmentation at the various tourist sites in the province in anticipation of an influx of visitors.

Displaced workers from the tourism, events, and creative sectors would be prioritized, the provincial government said.

The Ilocos Norte Tourism Office also launched on Tuesday the second installment of the tourism livelihood continuity program to shoulder a portion of the wages of tourism workers to prevent layoffs and help tourism establishments recoup their pandemic-induced losses.