SAN JOSE, Antique – Resort owners in this province were reminded to always strictly observe health and safety standards as tourism activities resume.
“Safe physical distancing, continuous sanitation and disinfecting should be observed by owners of the tourism facilities,” Antique Provincial Tourism Office (APTO) head Juan Carlos Perlas, said recently.
To ensure safe physical distancing, they were also instructed to only accommodate fifty percent of their guest capacity, he added.
According to Perlas, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis greatly affected the tourism industry in this province.
“We would have to start from the bottom with new rules, but we are optimistic that Antique has always been different from usual places – laid back and without the large crowd,” he said.
Based on the data provided by the APTO, some 210 tourism facilities in this province temporarily closed during the enhanced community quarantine period last March.
Perlas, however, is positive that the beautiful beaches and other tourist spots in this province will bounce back from their losses.
Meanwhile, Flord Nickson Calawag, owner of the Calawag Mountain Resort in Barangay Tono, Tibiao, said that they were forced to let go half of their staff because of the community quarantine.
“We used to have 50 employees, but we had to downsize due to COVID-19,” he stressed.
Calawag said their resort resumed operations on June 1 in line with this province’s shift to modified general community quarantine as directed by Gov. Rhodora Cadiao through her Executive Order No. 65.
According to Calawag, the guests of their resort are required to wash their hands upon arrival while those who have fever or are coughing will not be granted entry.
Calawag added that they adhere to Memorandum Circular Number 2020-002 of the Department of Tourism that details health and safety guidelines on the operations of accommodation establishments under the new normal.
The reopening of the Calawag Mountain Resort’s fish spa, rubber tubing and other adventure activities has started luring tourists.
“We hope our domestic tourists would be more encouraged to visit and promote the local destinations,” he said.
Since Antique is part of the One Panay Community Quarantine which began June 1, residents of Panay Island would be enticed to visit the Calawag Mountain Resort and other destinations in this province, Calawag added.(With a report from PNA/PN)
