Why we should travel the Philippines first before other countries after the pandemic
More than a hundred days into the COVID-19 quarantine, the government imposed less strict protocols, which led businesses, including tourism services, resumed their operations.
While traveling internationally is still not advisable because of the health scare, it does not mean that we can't achieve our travel goals.
In fact, we should prioritize exploring the Philippines first before other countries when this is all over, because of socio-economic reasons.
#Project81PH finisher Nicole Del Rosario and travel blogger Angel Juarez, who goes by the name Lakwatsero, shared the most insightful ones in an email interview with GMANetwork.com.
It's cheap.
The Philippines has been one of the favorite tourist destinations of many because backpacking here is more affordable.
"Traveling used to be a luxury, but over the years, it has evolved to be more budget-friendly," Nicole shared.
"There have been increases in the number of seat sales, travel guides, and joiner group tours which help make traveling across provinces affordable. Let's take advantage of how tourism has evolved over the years so that we don't have to spend a lot of money to accomplish our travel goals."
Saving money is essential for financial emergencies, just like now that we're experiencing a pandemic, so it's wise to travel on a budget.
"Most of my backpacking trips are booked via cheap airfares which are usually six months to one year in the making," the 27-year-old bank risk analyst recounted.
"Before the sale, I prepare a list of possible destinations and dates so that it's faster to book when the sale opens. More importantly, researching and carefully planning your itinerary before the trip is important to stay within budget."
It will help us appreciate the Philippines more.
Because of the country's strategic location and rich biodiversity, we have lots of beautiful attractions that are truly world-class.
With what's going on right now, it's best to regain our sanity by exploring our own pristine beaches, breathtaking mountains, stunning islands, and other natural resources. Through this, it will help us revive our love and appreciation for our country after months of not having outdoor activities.
"The Philippines is very diverse and that's what makes it beautiful. We are blessed with world-famous destinations like Batanes, Palawan, Cebu, Boracay, and Siargao but more than that, we also have a lot of hidden gems that are less known and underrated that are equally beautiful.
"From the coves and cliffs of Calayan Island in Cagayan, the limestone terraces of Kaparkan Falls in Abra, the powdery sand and blue waters of Calaguas in Camarines Norte, to the amazing rock formations of Biri Island in Northern Samar, the seven waterfalls in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, and the raw beaches of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi."
The Cebu native then noted, "Our country has it all. I really hope that we love our own country and choose to travel the Philippines first. Sabi nga nila, 'huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan.' Mahalin natin ang sariling atin!"
It's good for the economy.
For Angel of Lakwatsero, one of the pioneers of travel blogging in the Philippines, traveling locally will be a huge driver for the recovery of the tourism industry in the country.
He said, "Apparently, we don't have much choices as international borders are out of our control. Come to think of it though, the moment all these lockdowns end is an opportune time to discover, rediscover, and appreciate what the Philippines have.
"Truth be told, our country has a lot to offer. The possibilities are endless, from the vivid depths of our waters to the panoramic vistas of our summits, and everything in between but one thing is certain -- it is not hard to market our attractions."
Domestic leisure travel is a great way to stimulate our collapsing economy because it can help boost small businesses in the local tourism sector which were affected by the present pandemic.
"Now is the best time to support our own," the 39-year-old emphasized.
"After all, we can only depend on ourselves at this time of crisis. I would encourage everyone to support Filipino. That is to travel local, buy local products, avail the services of local guides, avoid haggling, and add tip if you can."
WHAT THE 'NEW NORMAL' OF TRAVEL MIGHT LOOK LIKE AFTER COVID-19
According to a survey conducted by the Department of Tourism last May, health and safety remain as two of the primary concerns of travelers.
Travel plans are also largely going digital, as 72 percent of travelers directly and independently book travel arrangements with establishments online. They also prefer reduced-contact activities once leisure travel restrictions are lifted.
Given the situation, it's safe to say that the carefree days of traveling won't happen anytime soon as there is no readily available vaccine for COVID-19 in the Philippines.
As Angel envisioned, "For as long as there is no vaccine for COVID-19, I can see that the 'new normal' will prevail. The carefree days of travel will be far from sight and it will be different if not difficult. You cannot just go to a place spontaneously, everything should be pre-arranged.
"Health and safety will always be a concern for everyone, so expect that there will be fewer tourists due to virus scare, limitations on operating capacity of establishments and restrictions on travel. The added safety precautions will surely impact the cost of travel as well."
Despite this, Angel would still encourage Filipinos to travel as long as preventive measures like social distancing are observed.
Honestly speaking, it could end up more worthwhile and relaxing -- and that's the goal, right?
"I encourage everyone to still travel. I know it poses a risk but we can always opt to go outdoors and avoid the crowd. Avoid heavily congested sites, festivals, parties, and nightlife. Interact with nature instead of the crowd. Go trek a waterfall, hike a mountain, swim in an offbeat beach.
"Explore off-the-radar attractions to distribute the traffic, to minimize the risk, to disperse the impact to nature, and to provide livelihood to others," Angel concluded.
ECQ Stories: How travel agencies are handling the impact of the pandemic
ECQ Stories: How Pinoy travel bloggers thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic