DOT: More than Half of PH Tourism Workers Already Vaccinated
About 53 percent of the country’s tourism workers have been vaccinated against the coronavirus disease in 2019 (Covid-19), raising hopes for the safe resumption of tourism activities under the new normal.
In Metro Manila, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said 99 percent of workers in hotels and DOT-accredited restaurants have been inoculated, along with 97 percent of the region’s tour guides and tour operators.
Also read: DOT: Leisure travel from NCR to GCQ, MGCQ areas Allowed; Restrictions Subject to LGUs
IMAGE from the Department of Tourism
As she hoped for the reopening of more destinations before the year ends, she said the DOT would also see to it that the accredited accommodation establishments are compliant with government protocols.
“I hope this development is continuous, unlike last year. At least now, we already have the vaccines and we are actively inoculating our tourism workers,” Puyat said.
Under Alert Level 4 of the pilot Covid-19 alert level system, leisure travel for age 18 years to 65 years traveling from Metro Manila to areas under general community quarantine and modified GCQ are allowed so long as the destination’s local government permits.
However, the DOT is also pushing for the removal of the age restriction as most Filipinos travel as a family, Puyat said.
Outdoor or al fresco dine-in are permitted at 30 percent venue capacity in Alert Level 4 in the National Capital Region (NCR) but staycations, indoor visitor or tourist attractions, and indoor venues for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions (MICE) remain prohibited.
The tourism chief assured that the DOT conducts regular “spot checks” to make sure all DOT-accredited hotels in the NCR comply with the current alert level measures.
Source: Philippine News Agency
