DOT launches one-stop website for balikbayan promos
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism on Tuesday launched a website that features exclusive travel deals for returning Filipinos or balikbayans.
Through balikan.ph one-stop-site for travel promos, balikbayans can score discounts of up to 50% on DOT-accredited hotel and resort rates and value-for-money vacation packages.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the website would also feature travel deals from airlines and tour operators.
The tourism agency said this new website is part of its “Balikan ang Pilipinas” campaign that encourages Overseas Filipinos and Overseas Filipino Workers to come home for the holiday season and rediscover the Philippines with their loved ones.
“This is one way to make their visit here more affordable and fun, especially after a long separation caused by the pandemic,” Puyat said.
DOT also said the balikan.ph website serves as an aggregator of information where different travel promotions and packages are posted for the consumption of returning balikbayans.
“The posts will lead them to the merchant’s websites for the specifics of the deals and discounts,” the DOT said.
The travel discount offerings were curated in cooperation with airlines, DOT-accredited establishments, the Philippine Tour Operators Association Inc., the Philippine Hotel Owners Association Inc., and the Hotel Sales & Marketing Association International Inc.
The DOT said this page would be updated regularly.
The “Balikan ang Pilipinas” campaign will run until March 2022.
Due to the threats of new coronavirus variant, Omicron, the government’s pandemic task force placed the following countries and territories under “red list,” the most severe risk classification for COVID-19:
- Andorra
- France
- Monaco
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Réunion
- San Marino
- South Africa
- Switzerland
The red list classification is effective starting December 16.
Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles during his regular briefing on Wednesday said that only Filipinos who will be returning home through government-initiated repatriation of Bayanihan flights will be allowed to travel to the Philippines from "red list" areas.
On Wednesday, the Department of Health detected the first two Omicron cases in the country.
In view of this, areas placed on the government's "green list," the lowest risk classification, are now reclassified to the moderate or "yellow" list.
The "yellow list" covers destinations with moderate risk of COVID-19 infection.
Under this category, vaccinated must comply with these protocols:
- Present negative RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to departure
- Facility based quarantine until release of negative results
- 5th day swabbing
- Home quarantine until 14th day from arrival
.
