Cebu reopens tourism sites

CEBU, Philippines —  Starting tomorrow, July 31, specific tourism activities will formally resume in Cebu, more than four months into the coronavirus pandemic that has not only restricted people’s movement but also crippled the local economy.

The resumption of tourism activities is seen to spark hope that the economy in Cebu could finally gain back momentum, especially since most towns and cities in the province rely on tourism as their main economic driver.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, along with the Provincial Tourism Task Force, will lead activities related to the reopening of tourist attractions starting tomorrow in the town of Oslob.

There, Garcia will lead the reopening of whale shark watching and interaction at around 10 a.m. According to town officials, Oslob lost over P30 million in revenues after tourists were barred from seeing its famed attraction, the whale sharks, in compliance with government protocols in the fights against COVID-19.

From Oslob, Garcia’s team will then proceed on Saturday to the town of Moalboal, where the governor is expected to spearhead the resumption of diving and island hopping activities.

Moalboal is known for its pristine beaches and breathtaking dive spots that feature schools of sardines, sea turtles, and other marine animals.

The Capitol’s three-day activity will culminate in the town of Barili, where Garcia is also set to reopen the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) adventure and trekking on Sunday.

To facilitate reservations, the central portal established for this purpose by the Cebu provincial government, in coordination with the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine National Police (PNP), is now up and open for bookings by local tourists who wish to enjoy again the whale shark watching, diving, island hopping and ATV activities in the south.

Payments may be made through money remittance firms.

Garcia assured that the resumption of the specific tourism activities will follow strict protocol to ensure safety of the tourists and participants.

Last week, the governor issued Executive Order 20-A providing safety protocols and guidelines to be followed for the resumption of tourism-related activities now that Cebu is under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

“We are packing Cebu as a health and wellness destination,” she said.

Garcia clarified that only local tourists from areas in the province included in the so-called MGCQ Zone are the ones who are eligible to take part in these tourism activities.

She also reiterated the limits on the number of tourists who can participate in these activities in keeping with the measures against COVID-19. For instance, whale shark watching is limited to 1,000 tourists per day.

Garcia will launch the remaining tourism activities in the province once these towns are ready to do so.

In midwest Cebu, the town of Asturias announced that it will soon open its agri-fishery and nature tourism activities to the public.

The initiative, which is led by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department of the town, seeks to provide alternative livelihood to fisherfolk through sustainable tourism.

As the town lies near the coast, it hopes to bank on marine-based tourism in a big to perk up the local economy.

Other local government units in Cebu are also in the process of reopening or repackaging their tourist sites. JMD (FREEMAN)