Sunday, February 28, 2021

DOT welcomes the approval of IATF uniform travel protocols

 


The Department of Tourism (DOT) is for the safe reopening of tourist destinations as this allows us to restart our economy and help our tourism workers regain their jobs. The Department therefore welcomes the approval of uniform travel protocols for all local government units (LGUs) by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) to facilitate travel movement and promote local tourism.

The DOT deems the simplification of requirements as vital in encouraging domestic travel and helping in the speedy recovery of Philippine tourism.

The DOT also defers to the decision of LGUs to require tests before travel. For those requiring RT-PCR tests, the subsidized program in partnership with the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) will help reduce costs and encourage travel.

DOT reminds tourists and stakeholders of the need to still strictly ensure minimum health and safety protocols such as wearing of a mask and face shield, physical distancing, hand sanitizing, and booking or operating in DOT-accredited establishments, among others to protect both the tourists, tourism workers and the residents of host communities.

Relatedly, the DOT will continue to develop minimum health and safety guidelines for the tourism sub-sectors to prepare LGUs in the safe reopening of their destinations.