Panglao town’s tourism stakeholders reportedly gather in a meeting with Mayor Leonila Montero to discuss the future of the tourism industry.
As everyone knows, the industry is being severely affected by the pandemic.
According to the executive assistant to the mayor for information, Chandymar Batoy, the meeting happened last Saturday, June 13, 2020.
The meeting discussed the guidelines and protocols needed to be followed in the eventuality that the town’s tourism sector reopens for business.
Owners of hotels, restaurants, sea transport, and other tourism-related businesses huddled to chart out plans, Batoy said in the radio program “What’s On In Panglao” on Monday, June 15, 2020.
The meeting was a sort of a tourism summit, Batoy added.
He said the tourism stakeholders gathered to prepare for the eventuality to reopen the tourism industry of Panglao town, which is the primary economic driver.
In the program, Batoy mentioned the simultaneous opening of accommodations, restaurants, and transport businesses related to tourism, and others this coming Sunday, June 21, 2020.
Batoy said the Inter Agency Task Force’s (IATF) Omnibus Guidelines allow the opening of accommodations in areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ).
Bohol is under GCQ starting today, June 16, 2020 until June 30, 2020, according to Executive Order No. 31 issued by Gov. Arthur Yap.
Batoy said the accommodations and restaurants, however, are not allowed to conduct full operations in areas under GCQ.
He added that there will be strict protocols that will be imposed on those who will patronize the businesses that will be opening up.
In his program, Batoy said that there is a need to reopen the industry in order to generate income to workers who rely their livelihood on the town’s tourism.
Batoy said there will be another meeting regarding the details on the reopening guidelines and protocols this coming Thursday, June 18, 2020.
Batoy further said accommodation establishments wishing to reopen need to secure a certificate of authority to operate from the Department of Tourism (DoT).
Business owners need to visit the DoT website in order to apply for the said certificate.
The tourism industry in Panglao has been severely impacted due to the imposition of measures aiming to mitigate the spread of the Covid virus.