ARE you one of the stranded domestic tourists in Central Visayas?

The Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 is urging local tourists to send their information to the agency as it is tracking down how many are stranded in the region so they can be sent them back to their destinations through possible sweeper flights.

“We have to know the exact number so we can inform the airlines since there are seats to fill in the planes,” Riza Macaibay, senior tourism operations officer at DOT 7, told SunStar Cebu.

This is in line with the mandate of DOT Secretary Bernadette Puyat to help stranded domestic tourists go back home as the month-long enhanced community quarantines rage on in several provinces in the country to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“We are trying to get the concensus of how many are stranded here because airlines need to have a fixed number of passengers to accommodate everyone,” she said.

She added they will also be coordinating with the local government units whether they will allow the stranded tourists to go home or seek shelter in quarantine facilities.

Macaibay said they have already received 200 requests and most of these come from Luzon and Mindanao tourists.

DOT 7 is also mulling to coordinate with local passenger ships to also ferry the stranded tourists back to their cities and provinces, she said.

The stranded domestic tourists should provide their complete name, active mobile number, email address, complete home address (including home province), current location in Central Visayas, copy of expired return flight/boat tickets, proof of accommodation booking and purpose of travel.

The tourists can send it to the DOT 7 email address dot7touristassistancecenter@gmail.com or contact numbers 09165896265 or 09166345863 (Globe) and 09087091227 (Smart) for proper coordination.

For all stranded overseas Filipino worksrs in Central Visayas, they are urged to relay their concerns with the Overseas Workers Welfare Association through region7@owwa.gov.ph and contact numbers 09178094754 and 09189214932.