With the significant dwindling of new COVID-19 cases, the Department of Tourism (DOT) can now push forward with its plans and programs for the full recovery of the Philippine tourism industry as the country yesterday welcomed fully-vaccinated international leisure travelers from visa-free countries.
“We are glad that we are gradually reopening our borders to foreign visitors,” Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, DOT secretary, said.
But this enthusiasm, Puyat stressed, is tempered by the constant reminder that “the virus is still very much a threat and that we must always be vigilant so as not to negate the efforts we have made over the past two years to contain the virus.”
According to data generated by the DOT-National Capital Region from the One Health Pass (OHP) System as of 2 p.m. yesterday, a total of 398 out of the 11,492 expected arrivals at NAIA Terminals 1 to 3 are classified as tourists.
The bulk of this number came from the United States and Thailand, with 109 and 93 passengers, respectively. Other countries with more than 10 arriving tourists at NAIA yesterday include Malaysia, Canada, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Australia.
A total of 180 non-OFW travelers were expected to arrive at the Clark International Airport (CRK) yesterday, aboard flights from five different airlines: Emirates; JeJu Air; Jetstar; Qatar Airways; and Scoot.
Puyat is optimistic that the number of inbound tourist arrivals will steadily grow in the coming weeks, as tourists usually need time to finalize their travel plans.
During the first general membership meeting of Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), the largest association of inbound and domestic tour operators in the country, headed by the new president Fe Abling-Yu of Arfel Travel and Tours, Puyat said the reopening signals the beginning of the next phase of the country’s ongoing recovery.
“While our international borders were closed or heavily restricted for much of the last two years, we focused on developing our local tourism industry, making sure that it was safe and that we met the evolving needs and interests of those traveling amid a pandemic,” she added.
The entire local tourism industry has learned to adapt quickly to challenges posed by the ever-shifting public health situation.
With the reopening to international travelers, “we are going to prove to the world that we are indeed ready,” she said. There are several reasons Puyat is confident and excited about the prospects of a healthy rebound in tourism.
These include the high vaccination rate among tourism workers, the public health safeguards and guidelines that have been put in place, the number of new tourism circuits that have been developed, the industry’s embrace of digital technology and smart tourism, the strengthening of partnerships between the government and public sector, the numerous capacity building programs conducted for tourism workers and stakeholders, and the rising awareness for sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity in tourism, among many others.
As of January 27, the DOT has 79 newly developed domestic tourism circuits, with another 40 currently in development.
A total of P91 million were given as a support to the regional offices, in partnership with 33 local government units (LGUs) all over the country as part of product development.
