Cebu Gov. Garcia Releases E.O. for Tourism Recovery
CEBU – Governor Gwen Garcia released an executive order citing the guidelines that unvaccinated foreign travelers must abide in entering the province.
The Philippines and several other nations across the globe greatly suffered from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy was dragged down, many lives were lost, and the people have to adapt to the new normal setting.
The pandemic is going on for more than two (2) years now. The schools cannot easily go back to the in-person learning scheme as the threats of the virus are still present. Many businesses also remain in limited operations due to the situation now.
The tourism industry is also one of the areas hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The government and the tourism authorities are urged by the impact to find ways to re-ignite the industry after more than two (2) years of continuous struggles.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, as part of the efforts to help the tourism industry in Cebu, Gov. Gwen Garcia released an executive order allowing unvaccinated foreign travelers in the province provided that they abide by the protocols set starting March 1.
According to the report, unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated foreign travelers must present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours from prior to departure from their country of origin to enter Cebu. Upon arrival in the province, the traveler must undergo another RT-PCR swab test.
The traveler must undergo another RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day of quarantine. The isolation must be facility-based.
Visayas Vaccination Operations Center’s Dr. Jean Loreche told TeleRadyo the belief of the province that there are more vaccinated travelers than unvaccinated ones and they don’t want to restrict the latter from “enjoying what one Cebu island can offer them”.
Loreche further stressed that various stakeholders including the government agencies and the private sectors were consulted with the move. According to her, hotels, tour operators, and resorts in Cebu are really having a hard time amid the pandemic.
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