DOT: Inter-regional Tourism Circuit in the Works
The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced that an inter-regional tourism circuit in the Mimaropa (Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) administrative region and some parts of the Bicol and Calabarzon regions is being planned as part of the government’s recovery plan for the battered travel and tourism industry.
Pagsanjan Falls in Cavinti, Laguna
In the initial talks among the regional DOT offices, the identified provinces were Marinduque, Quezon, Laguna, and Albay. No timeline has been provided yet, but the agency said the “Center of FUN Tourism Circuit” would focus on farm, food, and faith tourism products.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat announced the plan during her two-day visit to Marinduque, where she talked to local leaders and stakeholders to prepare the province for its reopening for leisure travel. The DOT is also developing a tourism circuit for diving and marine sports on the island, aside from the aforementioned industries.
“As the results of our most recent travel survey have confirmed, the needs and expectations of tourists have evolved because of the pandemic. To address this, the DOT has been redeveloping tourism products and seeking out new experiences for travelers to enjoy in the new normal,” Puyat said.
It was part of DOT efforts to pursue dive tourism as one of its priority products identified in the Regional Tourism Development Plan.
Since last year, the DOT has been finding ways to support the sector and restart tourism safely amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The travel circuit, which involves destinations that have low or no cases of the Covid-19 disease, is among the proposals.
Source: Philippine News Agency
