CEBU CITY, Sept. 23 (PIA) -- The Department of Tourism (DOT-7) and local government units (LGUs) in Central Visayas are now preparing to reopen more tourism activities in the region.
Since inter-island movements are still not allowed due to travel restrictions, DOT is going high in promoting local tourism while making sure public health safety protocols are imposed in tourist destinations.
In an interview with the Philippine Information Agency 7, DOT Central Visayas Regional Director Shahlimar Hofer Tamano said the department, in collaboration with the LGUs, are currently working on the finishing touches of the safety protocols to be implemented in tourism destinations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our government, especially those working in the health sector, has sacrificed a lot to put our safety first. By carelessly reopening our tourist destinations in our attempt to revive our economy, it will only put to waste what has been done for the last months,” said Tamano.
He said the LGUs were also given the prerogative in crafting protocols to be implemented when accepting tourists in their areas, but thes must be in accordance to the community quarantine guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Managing Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).
“At the end of the day, it will be our LGUs that will shoulder the burden if there will be a COVID outbreak in their area. So we are giving them the right to choose who they will open their doors to and which of their tourist spots they will open to the public,” Tamano said.
He said that given how rich the region is when it comes to site attractions, he encouraged tourists to opt for activities that can still enable them to practice physical distancing and other public health protocols.
“We have many beautiful beaches and safe mountains to climb or trek, these are spaces we can safely say we cannot overcrowd,” he added.
Meanwhile, DOT has also been working closely with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) in monitoring Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and other business establishments, since the business sector is seen to play a big part in fighting the spread of COVID-19, said Tamano.
“Close collaboration with concerned agencies and sectors will be our best preparation. We want to capacitate our business sectors, too, and make sure they are equipped to operate under the new normal,” Tamano said.
According to the DOT regional director, he will personally inspect sites in each province to experience firsthand the safety precautions prepared by the LGUs for their visiting local tourists. (jkm/PIA)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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