Hotel, resto operators in Bacolod ready to accept tourists

Several hotels and restaurants in Bacolod City have expressed their readiness in accepting tourists as the number of Covid-19 cases in the city continues to drop drastically.

Frank Carbon, Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) head, said most of the hotels, resorts and restaurants in the city have already complied with the protocols set by the National Inter-Agency Task Force in order to maintain the minimum health protocols in their respective commercial establishments.

Carbon said tourists are still having a hard time visiting Bacolod due to the lack of commercial trips for fast crafts and roll-on/ roll-off vessels.

The MBCCI head also pointed at the executive order of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia which prohibits leisure travel in the city.

Despite the noted setbacks, Carbon has expressed confidence that with the city potentially being downgraded to the less strict modified general community quarantine next month, commercial trips would return and tourists will start to trickle again into the city.

Earlier, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Negros Occidental chief, Lt. Commander Jansen Benjamin, said there are no more travel restrictions for residents of Iloilo City who want to travel to Bacolod City and vice versa.

However, residents of both cities are required to register with the BacTrac system when traveling in between the two cities.

Several resorts and accommodation facilities in Negros Occidental have also now resumed operations following several months of closure brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, although some of the establishments are only accepting local residents.