DOT mounts sweeper flights for stranded tourists

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is organizing sweeper flights to bring home stranded domestic tourists from various regions to the National Capital Region and vice versa.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has authorized the DOT to charter and fund these flights.

As of April 27, 2020, the DOT's regional offices nationwide have listed about 2,267 remaining domestic tourists.

Stranded local tourists may be eligible for assistance if registered with the DOT Regional Office and had a confirmed return land, air, or sea ticket that was canceled due to the community quarantine.

The DOT is also extending accommodation on these flights to stranded workers and interns of tourism establishments.

Airlines such as Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and AirAsia have been asked to provide quotations for the flight costs.

The DOT is mounting sweeper flights from Palawan, Cebu, Siargao, and Davao.

Additionally, the DOT will provide one-time financial assistance to qualified stranded local tourists.