DOT eyeing 10 more hotels for ‘staycations’

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is inspecting 10 more hotels to see if they are eligible for “staycation” bookings amid the pandemic.

According to Maki Pulido’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday, the DOT earlier approved staycations in 10 5-star hotels in Metro Manila in a bid to revive the tourism industry.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the tourism industry needs a boost with 4.8 million workers dependent on it.

“Some people were thinking, ‘Hintayin muna natin ang vaccine.’ But hindi e. We believe that we can restart the economy, we can restart tourism as long as minimum health and safety protocols are in place,” she said.

Last month, the government approved staycations in areas under general community quarantine. 

The DOT said a negative COVID-19 antigen test will still be required prior to check-in even after a pilot run in Baguio found that such tests do not meet the standards of the Department of Health. 

“Let’s say it’s not what we want. Then we try another. It’s always a process naman e. Ang importante, we’re really testing ‘yung more affordable and faster,” Puyat said.

Meanwhile, hotels assured the public that staycations are safe despite the pandemic.

“Everything is in place from the thermoscanners to decontamination areas to properly sealed and sanitized rooms which we have invested a lot of equipment [in],” Okada Manila Senior Vice President for Hotel Operations Ivaylo Ivanov said.—Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News