Binay shuns entry of foreign tourists from low-risk countries

Senator Nancy Binay on Wednesday said the Philippines is not yet ready to accept foreign tourists from low-risk countries amid the global pandemic.

"Not yet. Being the chair of the committee on tourism, I super support the campaign of DOT (Department of Tourism) to attract first the domestic tourism market," Binay said in a television interview.

She pointed out that the Philippines has not "perfected" its testing, tracing, and treating efforts yet and it would be too risky to open tourist spots to foreigners.

"It doesn't follow logic eh, kung ikaw ang turista coming from a non-COVID o a low-COVID country, pupunta ka sa isang bansa na may problema pa sa COVID? Parang it doesn't make sense. Why would you expose yourself to the virus?" Binay said.

Last week, the DOT announced plans to allow foreign tourists from countries with relatively low cases of COVID-19 to visit selected tourist destinations in the Philippines.

"Bubble tourism" will be part of the new norm as the COVID-19 threat lurks around the corner, according to the Tourism Congress of the Philippines.

Further, Binay said it was premature for the Palace  to claim that the country is already winning the fight against COVID-19.

"It's too early to say that we are winning because if we are winning eh di dapat may semblance of normalcy na tayo, lalo na dito sa Manila but the mere fact that we're still under the general community quarantine, ibig sabihin noon we're not winning the battle," she said.

"If you see the numbers, it keeps on increasing eh compared to our other neighbors," she added.

As of July 1, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines reached 38,511 after 595 “fresh” or newly validated and 404 reported late cases were recorded. —LDF, GMA News