Lawmaker: Tourism sector to brace longer

We will urge tourism-related establishments across the country to brace for a longer recovery, especially if they used to rely mainly on foreign visitors

House Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel on Sunday urged tourism-related establishments in the country to brace for a long period of recovery, especially if they rely only on foreign visitors.

Pimentel expressed his observation as the Montreal, Canada- based International Air Transport Association reported that it doesn’t expect global airline traffic returning to pre- pandemic levels until 2024, making it impossible for international air travel to have a rebound anytime soon due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We will urge tourism-related establishments across the country to brace for a longer recovery, especially if they rely mainly on foreign visitors,” Pimentel said in a statement.

He said even domestic air travel may take a long time to bounce back given the continuing effects brought about by COVID-19 to the lives of the people and economies around the world.

He said with many Filipinos losing their jobs and having no disposable income, travelling around the country will not be an option for them, at least for now.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) also earlier revealed that 16 of the country’s airports are still closed to commercial flights as people are afraid to travel due to the pandemic.

“Many Filipino families will likely avoid local air travel for leisure until a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available,” Pimentel said.

“Most Filipinos seeking leisure will likely take road trips, closer to their homes — such as the nearest beach resort — that won’t require air or sea travel,” he added.

The pandemic has heavily affected the tourism industry following travel restrictions imposed by government to control the spread of the virus.

Due to the collapse of the aviation sector, Pimentel said the Department of Transportation’s (DoTr) Aviation Infrastructure Program will only be getting P1 million as capital outlay under the 2021 national budget.

He, however, said that the P1 million budget for new aviation infrastructure for next year does not mean there won’t be construction activities in the country’s airports.

“The DoTr is just completing airport projects for which funds have already been obligated,” the lawmaker explained.

Pimentel said that to cope with the boom in air travel and address airport congestion prior to the onslaught of COVID- 19, Congress authorized over P16 billion for development funding since 2018 to expand and improve the country’s aviation facilities and services.

The DoTr, he said, even equipped many airports so they can operate flights even during the night.

“But (the) harsh reality is, we are now in a situation where all our 49 airports may be operating well below capacity for a very long time,” he said.