THE number of tourism workers in Negros Occidental who were displaced by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic has reached 2,637 employees, based on the data of the Provincial Tourism Office.
Those displaced were 1,218 workers from accommodation facilities, 68 from tour and travel agencies, 68 tour guides, 156 in the tourism and transport services, 123 at sports and recreation facilities, 68 at wellness centers, 716 in the food and beverage sector and 220 in other resorts.
The 17 local government units (LGUs) with displaced tourism workers are the cities of Bago, Cadiz, La Carlota, Kabankalan, Escalante, Sagay, Sipalay, Talisay, Victorias and San Carlos and from the Municipalities of Hinigaran, La Castellana, Manapla, Murcia, San Enrique, Pulupandan and Salvador Benedicto.
Provincial Tourism Officer Jennylind Cordero said based on the Department of Tourism (DOT) protocols, resorts and hotels in areas that are under general community quarantine and modified general community quarantine are allowed to resume operations, but they are required to secure a Certificate of Authority to Operate (CAO).
Cordero also said "to open gradually with proper health protocol following DOT guidelines is good, we need to let our displaced workers go back to work."
"We have to support them in our own little way with caution," she pointed out.
"The new normal is with strict health protocol and we should encourage more tourists to be aware of this, for safety, security, sanitation, social distancing and be sensitive to the needs of our fellowmen," she said.