THE Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 has committed to work with the Cebu City Government in crafting health and safety guidelines for the reopening of the city’s tourism destinations similar to the agency’s coordination with the Cebu Province.
According to Riza Macaibay, DOT 7 senior tourism operations officer, specific guidelines and health protocols for tourist spots must come from the local government unit (LGU).
“What we have are the operational guidelines for accommodations, tourist transport, meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) and tour operators. For the tourist destinations/attractions, guidelines would mainly come from the LGU, especially the health and safety protocol,” she said.
Macaibay said they are waiting for the release of specific guidelines to be issued by the Cebu City on tourism site operations.
Go signal
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella already gave a go signal for tourist spots to open as long as they adhere to the guidelines like social distancing and other safety protocol.
Under Executive Order 89 released on Monday, Aug. 31, the Cebu City Government can conduct random testing and assessment to make sure all establishments, including tourist destinations, comply with all government-imposed requirements.
The DOT-accredited hotels and accommodation establishments can now operate at 50 percent capacity under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status.
Aside from that, tourist destinations can now open at 50 percent capacity while Mice are already allowed at 50 percent capacity.
The guidelines also stressed that the rules on inter-zonal and intra-zonal movements under the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) shall be observed.
Persons under 21 years old and above 60 years old are prohibited from participating in any Mice activity, under MGCQ, according to the IATF-MEID rules.
The public are still enjoined to don face masks, face shields and follow social distancing measures and other safety measures like washing of hands with sanitizer, among others. (JOB)