ALL leisure tourism has been suspended in the National Capital Region starting today, Friday, as the government braced for an increasing number of Covid-19 Delta variant cases.
This developed as President Duterte decided to impose a general community quarantine with heightened restrictions (GCQ) on Metro Manila from July 30 to August 5, 2021, and on Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to 20, 2021, as per Resolution No 130-A from the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases issued on July 29, 2021.
In a news statement, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said, “In the interim week under the GCQ-HR, point-to-point (P2P) flights for leisure are suspended, effective immediately. However, returning flights are allowed for tourists residing in the NCR Plus (NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal). To prevent congestion [at] the borders of NCR, any type of non-essential travel to and from NCR Plus shall be prohibited. Only the travel of Authorized Persons Outside their Residences (APORs) in and out of NCR Plus shall be allowed.”
P2P flights refer to direct flights between NCR and leisure destinations under GCQ or modified GCQ areas where tourism is open.
Affected tourists, carriers
Bank executive Purple (not her real name) could not hide her disappointment over the travel ban. “It’s so difficult to ask permission to go on leave. Then it’s supposed to be my 40th birthday celebration. I just wanted to rest and relax in Boracay.”
She said it was pointless to reschedule her vacation to another date since “it wouldn’t be my birthday anymore, and I don’t know when I can ask for another leave.”
She stressed, “This travel ban would be absolutely useless if the government doesn’t fix its vaccination rollout plan. It doesn’t even have an information drive.”
A yet-undertermined number of P2P flights and passengers, will be affected by the immediate travel ban. Air Asia Philippines’ Mariane Mantaring said its daily flights to Tagbilaran (Panglao Island) currently have a passenger load factor of 60 percent from August 1-20 (except for August 11 and 14), and its twice-daily flights to Caticlan, the gateway to Boracay Island, have a passenger load factor of 70 percent, from August 1 to 20.
Other carriers had yet to revert regarding affected flights but both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific operate heavily between Manila and Cebu, Manila and Caticlan, and Manila and Tagbilaran.
Staycations canceled
Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said in its news statement, beginning Friday, indoor tourist attractions are not allowed to operate and staycations are prohibited. “DOT-accredited accommodation establishments outside of NCR Plus may no longer accept leisure guests from NCR Plus beginning today, regardless of the date of booking.”
However, those who have already checked-in for their stays in staycation hotels as of July 29, may continue their stay until the last day of their original booking.
Starting August 1, social events and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE), will continue to be prohibited, according to the DOT. Dining in restaurant establishments, whether indoor or al fresco, is banned starting August 1, 2021. The DOT urged its stakeholders, particularly the hotel operators, travel agencies and airlines, to allow affected guests to rebook without charges.