Plans for reopening of tourism industry outlined

In a Senate hearing on the impact of the coronavirus disease, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat outlined plans and preparations for the revival and reopening of tourist sites once their locations are placed under modified general community quarantine.

At present, all parts of the Philippines except Metro Manila, Laguna, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales, Angeles City, Cebu City and Mandaue City are under general community quarantine.

Safety measures defined in the plan include the regular sanitation and disinfection of accommodations, tourist transport services and other tourism-related establishments; the provision of sanitation/disinfecting devices, including personal protective equipment for tourism workers; the regular inspection of tourism establishments in relation to health and safety standards; the implementation of physical distancing measures; and limiting customer capacity.

Because of the pandemic, Puyat said the country recorded a 54.02-percent decrease in foreign arrivals since the start of 2020. —Jerome Aning