‘Travel bubbles:’ DOT mulls allowing foreign tourists from countries with low COVID-19 cases

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is eyeing the implementation of “travel bubbles” where foreign tourists from countries with low or zero coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases will be allowed to visit select destinations in the country.

During a televised briefing, DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat explained foreign tourists may only visit tourist spots in the country with low COVID-19 infections.

“We are looking at, in the near future, what we call travel bubbles or travel corridors,” Puyat said.

“Ibig sabihin, we are talking to different countries na halos walang COVID cases na puwede na silang lumipad diretso sa tourist destination like for example, Bohol at saka Boracay, meron silang international airport,” Puyat said.

(We’re talking to different countries that have low COVID cases so their tourists may fly directly to a destination like Bohol and Boracay that both have international airports.)

The government is only allowing tourism activities at 50 percent capacity in areas under modified general community quarantine (GCQ)

While tourism activities are allowed in some areas, Puyat said the concurrence of local government units is still needed.

“For example, let’s say sa Baguio, June 1 pa Modified GCQ na ang Baguio pero noong nakausap natin si Mayor [Benjamin] Magalong, gusto pa niya munang magbukas September kasi gusto niya iyong kaniyang sariling safety protocols within Baguio ay ayos,” she said.

(For example, Baguio has been under modified GCQ since June 1 but when we talked to Mayor Magaling, he said he wanted to open their tourism by September so they could place safety protocols.)

The tourism industry is said to be among the most hard-hit sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic due to travel restrictions from various countries and the ban on leisure activities.

/MUF