DOT allows staycations in GCQ areas

The Department of Tourism (DOT) confirmed on September 11 that they are allowing staycations in general community quarantine (GCQ) areas in the nation, such as Metro Manila and Cebu City.

Approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), the initiative will help the Philippines “explore various ways in restarting tourism activities during quarantine”, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat stated.

A staycation is usually defined as a period in which an individual, a couple, or groups (friends or family) stay solely in their preferred accommodation and participate in leisure activities there.

In the context of the pandemic, Puyat said that a staycation is a minimum overnight stay for leisure purposes in a DOT-accredited accommodation enterprise located in proximity with one’s residence. “For instance, residents of the NCR can [do] staycation within NCR, subject to the requirements of the local government unit (LGU),” Puyat added.

Want to know more about DOT’s efforts amid the global health crisis? We’ve spoken to the Honorable Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat about Philippine tourism in the new normal.

The DOT will soon release a memorandum circular on staycations under GCQ based on comments and suggestions made by the IATF. The aforementioned circular should enumerate “specific regulations in this activity ranging from the maximum allowable number of persons in a guestroom to use ancillary services such as restaurants and recreational areas.”

So far, the IATF’s latest resolution, IATF-EID Resolution No. 70, states that “markets of specialized programs” of the DOT will be allowed to stay at hotels apart from the listed transiting-through foreign guests; guests who have existing long-term bookings; distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and stranded passengers; repatriated OFWs with approved quarantine protocols; non-OFWs required to undergo mandatory facility-based quarantine; healthcare workers and other employees from exempted establishments.

Back in May, staycations and tourism were allowed in some modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) areas. Administrative Order 2020-002 by the DOT let hotels, resorts, motels, homestays, and other accommodation facilities accept tourists as well as business travelers in locations under MGCQ, although limited to a 50 percent capacity.

Places in the country under GCQ are Metro Manila, Bulacan, Batangas, and Tacloban City until September 30. Bacolod City, Lanao del Sur, and Iligan City are under MECQ while the rest of the nation is under MGCQ.

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