(We yield this space to the joint statement of the Department of Tourism and Tourism Congress of the Philippines due to its timeliness. – Ed.)
THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) which represents the country’s tourism stakeholders assure the public, especially our foreign and domestic tourists, that the Philippines remains a safe destination for travel. All preventive and precautionary measures are being put in place by the national government to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (nCoV) including the temporary entry ban for tourists coming from China, its Special Administrative Regions (SARs), Hong Kong and Macau, Taiwan, and the 14-day quarantine for Filipinos coming from the said places.
Even before the temporary ban, the tourism sector already implemented safeguards in light of the nCoV. Earlier, the DOT released guidelines in handling guests in tourism enterprises during this global emergency. In our airports and some tourism establishments, temperature are taken via infrared thermometers before allowing guests to enter, and more hand sanitizers have been made available for use.
The safety of the public, especially our tourists and employees in the tourism sector, remains the priority of DOT and TCP. As we monitor the situation closely, we remind the public to maintain proper hygiene. Wash your hands regularly, wear a surgical mask when going to crowded areas if you have a cough or a cold, and stay indoors or seek medical help if you have a fever.
To mitigate the economic impact of the nCoV crisis, the tourism sector has agreed to roll-out a tactical program that will offer more value-added tour packages, discounted accommodation rates and marked-down prices for domestic flights. Likewise, the DOT will intensify its marketing and promotions domestically and internationally, in key markets such as South Korea, the United States and Japan, and opportunity and emerging markets that cover Western Europe, the Middle East, Russia and the CIS, and neighboring Southeast Asian Countries. In these challenging times, the tourism sector spanning airlines, hotels and tour operators, have banded together for the continued growth of the industry.
It is because of this support from both the public and private sector that we reiterate that the Philippines remains a vast, diverse and most importantly, safe destination for international and domestic travelers alike. We encourage everyone to take advantage of these special offers and continue to experience why it’s still more fun in the Philippines.
