MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte called on Filipinos to patronize domestic travel to counter the negative effects of the spread of coronavirus disease to the local tourism industry.
“To my fellow Filipinos, I encourage you travel with me around the Philippines,” Duterte said in a taped message Friday.
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He added: “Come with me and be my travel companion. I’ll be traveling around the Philippines. Let’s go around the Philippines. Let’s prioritize our own.”
The chief executive issued the message after the government banned foreign nationals coming from China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This led to canceled flights, and hotel and tour bookings across the country.
The Department of Tourism reported
the local tourism industry is expected to lose an estimated P42.9 billion from February to April
due to the SARS-like virus.
Chinese—hit hardest by COVID-19—are the second biggest group of foreign visitors next to Korean tourists.
Duterte assured the public that everything is “safe
” in the Philippines — “be it an issue of health, be it an issue of law and order, and be it an issue of accessibility.”
“There are many beautiful places in the Philippines. You don’t have to worry about a thing,” he said.
The president added that tourism and aviation stakeholders have agreed to lower airfare and hotel rates “so
that we can be a viable market for the Philippines.”
Duterte on Thursday urged Filipinos to “remain calm and vigilant” and take precautionary measures amid the ongoing outbreak.
The coronavirus disease that emerged in China at the end of 2019 has infected
more than 46,000 and killed
more than 1,300. There are two reported deaths outside mainland China: one in the Philippines and the other in Hong Kong.
The Health department said there are 230 patients under investigation
currently admitted in hospitals.