Tourism stakeholders and government agencies craft plan for the restarting of the local tourism industry following a four-day value chain workshop facilitated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bohol. The virtual workshop started on Sept. 7 and ended on Sept. 10, 2020.

In a telephone interview with The Bohol Tribune, DTI provincial director Ma. Soledad Balistoy revealed that plans formulated by members of the tourism industry value chain and government agencies will be presented to Gov. Arthur Yap after the finalization process.

The plan is a short-term one that seeks to lay out guidelines and action items that will lead to the gradual reopening of the tourism industry here.

Balistoy said that the workshop was held to support the efforts to restart the tourism industry, which is one of the industries hardest hit by the lockdowns implemented to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.

She said that aside from the mainstream tourism industry players, the value chain also includes sectors that provide supplies and services to the tourism clients.

The planning workshop also included the relevant government agencies that will act as enablers of the action plans and items crafted as a result of the workshop.

The workshop involved all players involved in the tourism value chain. The value chain is being consulted to develop key strategies with the goal to reinvigorate the tourism industry here.

The strategies according to a report from the Capitol media involve the formulation of plans to explore alternative products and services in the new normal, to identify the value chain, members, strategy setting and action planning.

The plan hopes to make companies involved in the tourism value chain.

Moreover, the workshop aimed to look at the current situation of the local tourism value chain that has been severely impacted by the pandemic.