Imee backs 'tourism bubbles' in the North to save industry amid pandemic

Provinces in northern Luzon which are free from COVID-19 may subscribe to domestic "bubble tourism" in a bid to boost the local economy amid the pandemic, according to Senator Imee Marcos on Monday.

In a virtual interview with reporters, the chairperson of the Senate committee on economic affairs said Ilocos Norte has started its pilot testing of safe tourism within the province.

"Yung 'Buklod ng Kaligtasan' puwedeng magsimula ng kaunting tourism kasi parang hirap na hirap na ang aming travel agency tour operators, mga tour guide, mga iskolar na umaasa sa tourism, hirap na talaga," Marcos said.

She said this bubble travel may expand to other provinces in the Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region.

"Kung sino ang katabi mo na medyo okay pa rin, eh kayo na lang muna ang magsi-ikot," she added.

The Tourism Congress of the Philippines recently said bubble tourism will be a new norm after the COVID-19 pandemic caused restrictions in movements of the public.

Ilocos Norte is currently being led by the senator's son Governor Matthew Manotoc.

Marcos said the local government's bubble tourism program has not been formally launched in Ilocos Norte yet but some trials are ongoing.

"Mayroon pa kaming experiment ngayon na bus tours para sa mga lola. Ang ginagawa namin, nasa loob lang ng buses 'yung tourists. If ever, hihinto lang sa isang designated restaurant o tourist spot. The rest of the time nasa loob lang sila ng bus, naka-social distancing at may pagkain na rin doon," she said.

She recognized that the elderly are more prone to the virus and said that precautionary measures will be followed in ferrying this age group.

Protocols on COVID-19 testing of tourists from other provinces are still being studied, she added.

Boracay recently reopened to tourists from Western Visayas after being placed under modified general community quarantine.

Meanwhile, Marcos said she is not certain if international bubble tourism would be feasible for the Philippines for now after the World Health Organization data showed that the country has the fastest-growing COVID-19 cases in the Western Pacific region.

"Gusto ba nilang pumunta sa Pilipinas kasi lumabas ang balita na tayo ang pinakamabilis na dumami ang COVID sa buong Western Pacific. Baka ayaw pa nilang pumasok," she said.

"Dito sa Pilipinas baka hindi rin tayo patulan dahil ito nga, sa pakiwari nila hindi pa tayo under control... Paano natin iga-guarantee na hindi sila magkakasakit dito? Wala naman tayong contact tracing at magulo pa rin ang ating testing?" she added.

Last week, the Department of Tourism bared plans to allow foreign tourists from countries with relatively low cases of COVID-19 to visit certain tourist destinations in the country.—AOL, GMA News