IN AN effort to boost Lapu-Lapu City’s tourism industry, Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan will try to lure foreign tourists to the city, but he still has to request and convince an intergovernmental body to allow his plan amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The local executive said he will send a letter to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, asking it to allow the entry of inoculated foreign nationals into the city as tourists.

Tourism-related activities by foreigners were the bread and butter of boatmen, tour guides, tourist van drivers, workers in the hospitality industry and small-time traders during the pre-pandemic days.

As the vaccination rollout in other countries has started, Chan said it is about time to gradually reopen the tourism industry to foreign nationals who want to travel.

The tourism industry is a revenue machine for Lapu-Lapu City.

Chan does not worry if there would be another surge of Covid-19 cases as only the vaccinated foreign nationals are allowed to tour Lapu-Lapu City.

The active cases in the city are on a downward trend. Between April 8 and 13, the city’s active cases hovered above 800 and below 900. (GCM / KAL)