The House Committee on Tourism chaired by Laguna 3rd District Representative Sol Aragones approved 35 bills seeking to develop and promote various areas in the country as tourism destinations.
Aragones said that these measures, if enacted into law, would give a timely boost to the tourism industry, as well as generate investments and employment opportunities to the proponents’ respective districts.
The proposed tourism sites include ecoparks, caves, hot springs, water falls, mountain ranges, and protected landscapes, among others.
Approved were House Bills 8102, 8129, 8272, 8602, 8603, 8604, 8605, 8613, 8902, 8903, 8904,8905, 8906, 8907, 8908, 8909, 8947, 8949, 8950, 8951, 8952, 8953, 8994,9266, 9295, 9634, 9661, 9665, 9759, 9763, 10103, 10116, 10117, 10348 and 10476.
Meanwhile, the committee also held a briefing on updates in the tourism industry amid the significant and positive improvements in the pandemic scenario.
“Without doubt, the tourism industry will soon recover as the start of the New Normal is unfolding.”
“Daily infection rates have been going down and vaccination in the country is fast progressing. Without doubt, the tourism industry will soon recover as the start of the New Normal is unfolding. We have invited the Department of Tourism to give us an update on the present status of the tourism industry, particularly on the statistics on the latest tourist traffic and the most recent developments regarding tourism guidelines and requirements,” Aragones said.
In her presentation, Ma. Teresa Fevidal, Chief of the Standards Development Division of the DOT Office of Tourism Standards and Regulation, said that in areas under Alert Leve 2, fully vaccinated guests and those below 18 years old are accepted in indoor venues.
“But in areas under Alerts 3 and 4, only fully vaccinated guests are accepted in indoor venues.”
“But in areas under Alerts 3 and 4, only fully vaccinated guests are accepted in indoor venues,” she stressed.
As of Nov. 19, 2021, Fevidal said 235,295 or 72.58 percent of tourism workers have been vaccinated, out of the 330,225 initial target tourism workers.
Only 88, 901 or 27.4 percent are for vaccination. Meanwhile, she said 1,296 Safety Seal Certificates were issued to DOT accredited establishments.
