Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said her department is focusing on domestic tourism over international tourism amid the ongoing pandemic.
Romulo-Puyat said the DOT registered more domestic tourists with 110 million in the past year as compared to the international tourists with just 8.2 million.
Romulo-Puyat said they are also encouraging island destinations to conduct their own vaccination to boost the immunization program among tourists.
“We focus first on domestic tourism right now in order for the industry to bounce back,” the tourism chief said.
The tourism head said they are not keen on opening the country yet to international tourists due to the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) variants.
However, DOT also looks forward to catering to foreign tourists in the near future once the COVID-19 situation is better.
“As of now, overseas Filipino workers are allowed (to enter the country),” she said.
Romulo-Puyat added they are asking the Inter-Agency Task Force for shorter quarantine days to further encourage tourists to come.
“Kahit open tourism ayaw nila dahil sa quarantine mauubos na bakasyon nila. (Even though tourism is open, they are not patronizing it because of the quarantine that takes most of their vacation leave),” she stressed.
Romulo-Puyat said they are also encouraging island destinations to conduct their own vaccination to boost the immunization program among tourists.
“As more and more people are vaccinated, it will give higher chances for the opening of international tourism.”
She is confident that as more and more people are vaccinated, it will give higher chances for the opening of international tourism.
“You shouldn’t only protect tourists but also the workers and the locals,” Romulo-Puyat added.
Meanwhile, she commended the tourism sites in the province of Pangasinan as she visited the province recently.
“Pangasinan is very beautiful. We will promote it as it is near the National Capital Region,” Romulo-Puyat concluded.
