DOT might allow domestic travel by land after ECQ, GCQ

“Mag-uumpisa ‘yan mga domestic travel, medyo mga short distances muna siguro by land lang muna. And then siguro ‘yung mga kasama mo ‘yung mga pamilya mo or at least ‘yung mga kabisado mo ang travel history,” Bengzon said.

(It would start with domestic travel, maybe for short distances and by land only. And then perhaps you could travel with your family.)

“We believe that, for the rest of the year, what will really trigger the activities would be itong domestic tourism movement.”

The Undersecretary also said tour operators and travel agencies have the option to offer travel or tour packages in advance.

DOT estimated the revenue from foreign tourist arrivals from January to March went down by 35% from the same period in 2019.

P43 billion is allocated for the tourism industry under the P370-billion fiscal stimulus package proposed by Marikina City Representative Stella Luz Quimbo.

“Out of the P43 billion that will be allocated to us, siguro kulang-kulang mga P36 billion will go to ‘yung working capital kasi ‘yun talaga ang pinaka-importante,” Bengzon said.

(Out of the P43 billion that will be allocated to us, maybe about P36 billion will go to that working capital because that’s what really matters.)

“Kailangan makaahon, kailangan makatayo itong mga tour operators, travel agents natin, ‘yung ibang tourism enterprises dahil sila po ang katulong natin magpo-promote, magma-market ng Pilipinas eventually,” he added.

(We need to recover. We need our tour operators, travel agents, and other tourism enterprises to recovers because they are helping us promote and market the Philippines.)

DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat earlier said traveling abroad after the two-month enhanced community quarantine is likely to be pushed until next year.

“International travel might not happen this year. At this point in time, traveling (abroad) is but a dream,” she said as she unveils the “new normal” for the tourism industry.