Tourism allowed inside 'NCR Plus' bubble but with age restrictions —Puyat

Tourism inside the "NCR Plus" bubble will be allowed despite the latest restrictions imposed by the government, but with strict compliance with age restrictions and health and safety protocols, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Tuesday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Puyat said individuals below 18 and above 65 years of age will not be allowed in any tourist destination within Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal -- the areas that composed the bubble.

"Basta kung nasa loob ka ng bubble puwede naman, pero outside nun 'yun ang hindi na puwede ang turismo, pero siyempre meron nang age restrictions, bawal ang below 18 at above 65," she said.

(As long as you're inside the bubble, tourism is allowed but subject to age restrictions. Those below 18 at above 65 years are not allowed.)

Puyat said they chose to listen to the doctors and experts who appealed during a meeting last Saturday against allowing tourism outside of the bubble even under a "test before travel" scheme.

"Humiling talaga 'yung mga doktor na two weeks lang huwag muna yung turismo outside sa NCR Plus so kami sa DOT ay nakikinig sa mga doktor so pinagbigyan namin sila," she said.

(The doctors asked not to allow people inside NCR Plus to go out of the bubble for tourism purposes, and we at the DOT obliged.)

Based on the recent order by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), museums, cultural centers, and limited social events in establishments accredited by the Department of Tourism are temporarily suspended, but open-air tourist attractions will remain open.

Staycations, according to Puyat, are allowed inside the bubble but with age restrictions as well.

"Ang staycation meron pa rin pero ngayon may age rsetrictions na rin [staycations are still allowed but with age restrictions now]," she said.

The new travel restrictions in "NCR Plus" bubble -- implemented in light of the surge in COVID-19 cases -- will be in place from March 22 to April 4, 2021.

Puyat said those who have booked their hotels and flights prior to the imposition of the new restrictions can rebook without additional costs.

"Nakausap namin lahat ng airlines last Sunday at sabi nila puwedeng mag-rebook na walang penalty. Nakausap din namin yung mga hotels at yun din ang sinabi nila," she said.

(We've talked with various airlines and hotels and they said customers can rebook without penalty.)

Puyat, meanwhile, advised tourists to check with the local governments first to determine the travel requirements of their destinations. —KBK, GMA News