More tourists prefer to visit tourist spots with open spaces and those with safety and health protocols in place during the pandemic.
That’s according to the Tourism SecretaryBernadette Romulo-Puyat during a media interview recently at the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, a popular destination in Bataan.
“We made a survey and 77 percent want to travel even without the COVID-19 vaccine yet but they want to go in areas with open air in small groups and with known health and safety protocols,” the DOT secretary said.
People also prefer destinations which they can travel to by land, suggesting that many are still hesitant to travel by air. Tourists today also want to be able to go around a tourist spot’s surrounding municipality.
“Despite the pandemic, Puyat said that people are increasingly getting tired of staying indoors all the time because of the community quarantine and now want to breathe in fresh air.
“People are very tired of staying at home. They are looking for another scenery, so we are hoping that aside from Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar and Mt. Samat, there are other places to go to,” she said in Filipino.
Mt. Samat in Pilar town in Bataan, is the site of the Shrine of Valor built in remembrance of the bravery of Filipino and American soldiers during World War II.
Puyat said there are a few other tourist spots that have reopened in this province but she hoped that more will resume operation.
While Puyat understands that many local governments and business owners are concerned that influx of tourists might lead to a spike of COVID-19 cases, she said that with the propert health and safety protocols, tourism can slowly resume.
The Tourism chief noted that about 4.7 million people in the industry have been affected by the pandemic.
“We want tourism back slowly but surely, para makatrabaho na mga tao (so that people could work) but with the consent of the LGUs,” Puyat said.