Palace calls for safe reopening of tourism sector

Malacañang called for a safe reopening of the tourism industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing health and safety measures.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is working with local government units to determine when tourism operations would resume in their respective areas.

Baguio City will welcome tourists from Region I starting September 21 as part of a 'tourism bubble' concept to boost the economy.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said they will use an online registration system for managing tourist arrivals and that initial testing would be limited to Region I residents due to their modified general community quarantine status.

Baguio City, with 341 total cases of which only 81 are active, aims to open up tourism starting September 21 to mitigate economic losses estimated at P1.7 billion since March.