Inbound tourism receipts plunge 61% in Jan-may 2020; LGUS still cautious
DESPITE their having been placed under the more relaxed modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status, many provinces and regions are still wary of accepting tourism business.
This was disclosed by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat in a virtual news briefing on Tuesday, even as she revealed that the number of international tourist slumped by 62.21 percent to 1.3 million from January to May, with “zero arrivals” recorded in April and May. Inbound tourism receipts were also a dismal P81.05 billion, a 60.6-percent fall from the same period in 2019.
“Right now, no province is ready to accept tourists back. Even under GCQ, a lot of the provinces are hesitant to accept commercial flights. So I think that the DOTR [Department of Transportation] will be talking to the DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government] and will be discussing this with the different LGUS when they are even ready to accept tourists.”
Major Philippine carriers have already announced plans to fly to various cities in the first week of June, even as the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) reminded them that leisure travel was still not allowed in GCQ areas.
In an advisory signed on May 29, 2020, by CAB Executive Director Carmelo L. Arcilla, a copy of which was obtained by the Businessmirror, the agency said, “Under the Omnibus Guidelines on Community Quarantine, movement in areas under GCQ for leisure purposes shall not be allowed.”
It also prohibited the travel of “persons below 21 years old,” as well as senior citizens, along with those who have “immunodeficiency, comorbidities, or other health risks, and pregnant [women].… For purposes of compliance, airlines shall vet, or screen departing passengers, to confirm that the travel is for non-leisure purposes.”
Still, Romulo Puyat noted that the delay by provinces in reopening to tourism might not necessarily be a bad thing. “The beauty in this is it gives us also time to process all the hotels’ certificate to operate…so I actually appreciate that our LGUS are being very careful.”
She cited Mayor Benjamin Magalong of Baguio City who wants to reopen his city to tourism in September. When I asked him why, he said it was better to be safe and sure. “Isang outbreak lang, masisira na ang Baguio.” Other LGUS under MGCQ that have aired their views against resuming tourism activities and receiving commercial flights include Bohol, Malay (Boracay) and Siargao.
Meanwhile, Romulo Puyat reminded hotels and other accommodation establishments in MGCQ areas to secure their “certificate of authority to operate” prior to their reopening. “This is to assure the safety of our stakeholders whether for the accommodation of guests, or operations of the in-house food facilities for takeout or delivery,” she said, adding that the application is free of charge and may be submitted to the DOT regional office where the establishment is located.
Earlier, the DOT issued Administrative Order 2002-02, which allows hotels and other accommodation establishments to reopen 50 percent of their operations under the MGCQ.
Areas still under GCQ such as the National Capital Region and Pateros, Pangasinan, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Davao City, and Zamboanga City are still not allowed to reopen their hotels, and undertake leisure activities, such as tourism. (See, “No hotel operations, leisure travel allowed under GCQ ,” in the Businessmirror, May 30, 2020.)