DOT: Easing mask mandate will ignite PH tourism recovery

BORACAY DINING Boracay Island has been opened to visitors from Western Visayas region but restaurants, hotels and other establishments allowed to operate have imposed health protocols,
like wearing of face masks and observing physical distancing, to ensure that the spread of COVID-19 will be contained. —JACK JARILLA/CONTRIBUTOR

MANILA, Philippines — As a strategy to speed up the tourism industry’s recovery, the Department of Tourism (DOT) supported the recommendation of the country’s COVID-19 pandemic task force to liberalize the use of face masks outdoors.

DOT noted that the move would fuel the recovery of the tourism sector.

In a statement on Friday, DOT Secretary Christina Frasco said the Philippines is at a “grave disadvantage” and has to embrace more lenient regulations like top Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries.

“The Philippines is currently in a position wherein its existing entry and stay policies for tourists convey only a partial reopening of the country to international travel. For this reason, the Philippines is immediately at a grave disadvantage as a tourism destination vis-à-vis its neighboring Asean member states because the latter, which are the Philippines’ direct tourism competitors, have all lifted their mask mandates either totally or partially,” Frasco said.

She mentioned an uptick in tourist arrivals. Except for Indonesia, a decreasing trend in daily COVID-19 cases was observed in other Asean countries — except Indonesia — after liberalizing mask mandates.

Frasco said reduced restrictions had doubled the number of travelers to these nations, even though mask mandates do not appear related to COVID-19.

The tourism chief claimed liberalizing the mask mandate would help the country’s tourism industry recover.

She said to welcome economic recovery, the Philippines must improve its openness and appeal as a tourist destination. Keeping up with Asean, Asian, European, and North American countries means relaxing our mask mandate. — Lyka Farillon, INQUIRER.net Intern

READ: Face mask to be optional when outdoors nationwide 

JPV/abc