Face mask at vax card, ‘di na kailangan sa mga pasyalan — DOT

ni V. Reyes | March 6, 2023

Niluwagan na ng Department of Tourism ang health at safety protocols sa mga tourism establishment kabilang ang hindi na pag-oobliga na magprisinta ng vaccination card at ang hindi pagsusuot ng face mask.

Batay sa DOT Memorandum Circular 2023-0002, hindi na kailangang magpakita ng COVID-19 vaccination card ang mga turista at papayagan silang bumisita kahit walang face mask.

Bahagi ito umano ng pag-alalay sa mga stakeholder ng industriya ng turismo na makabawi sa epekto ng pandemiya.

“This latest issuance on the relaxed health and safety guidelines for tourism establishments reinforces the Department of Tourism’s commitment towards addressing the economic hardships of the tourism industry brought about by the lockdowns and restrictions of the pandemic,” ayon kay Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco sa isang kalatas.

“It sends the important message across that, under the Marcos Administration, our country is open for tourism, and that we are keeping up with global practices on tourism operations that have already opened up worldwide,” dagdag nito.

Department of Tourism tumulong sa pagtaguyod ng 3-day Travel Tour Expo

ni Fely Ng @Bulgarific | February 6, 2023

HELLO, Bulgarians! Ginanap noong Pebrero 3-5, 2023, sa SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City ang tatlong araw na travel fair ng Philippine Travel Agencies Association Inc. (PTAA) na nagsagawa ng unang post-pandemic travel expo. Nagpakita ng isang optimistikong pananaw para sa sektor ng paglalakbay at turismo na may lumalaking pangangailangan para sa mga biyahe. Mahigit sa 300 kalahok na mga exhibitor na may 700 booth at 80,000 hanggang 100,000 ang inasahang dumalo sa expo. Sinasabing ito ang pinakamalaking bilang mula noong 2020.

Ngayong taon, ang 30th Travel Tour Expo 2023 ng PTAA, gayundin ang 8th International Travel Trade Expo 2023, ay may temang “A Better and Stronger Future of Travel Is Here,” na ang hangad ay muling pasiglahin ang uhaw sa paglalakbay kasunod ng pagbagsak na dala ng COVID -19 pandemic.

Sa naganap na event, ipinaabot naman ni DOT Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina Garcia Frasco ang kanyang suporta sa pagbibigay ng kanyang mensahe sa pamamagitan ng isang video. Kasabay nito, nagbigay din ng diskwento sa pamasahe at promosyon para sa tours and accommodations ng mga manlalakbay. “The 30th TTE will offer the cheapest deals with up to more than 70% discount, offering new destinations, cultural competition, and the first conference within the venue with your favorite tourism speakers that will give you the latest travel updates and trends,” pahayag ni PTAA President Michelle Taylan.

Isa sa mga kalahok na grupo ng hotel, ang Hotel 101 Group, ang hospitality arm ng DoubleDragon Corporation, ay nagsabi na nag-aalok ito ng hotel accommodation voucher na valid para sa lahat ng hotel nito. Sinabi ng head of public relations nito na si Brian Ong na ang voucher ay magagamit sa mga hotel sa Hotel101 – Manila, Injap Tower Hotel sa Iloilo City, Jinjiang Inn – Ortigas, Makati, at Boracay Station 1.

Ang hotel group naman ay optimistic tungkol sa mas malakas na hinaharap ng paglalakbay. “The hotel accommodation sector is ready to welcome back travelers to the country, as projected by the Department of Tourism in their tourism arrival targets and projects year. We have all the safety protocols already in place in our hotels, and the new offerings for staycations and business travels,” sabi ni Hotel101 Group General Manager Gel Gomez.

Ang travel expo ay itinataguyod ng Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Unionbank, Philippine Airlines, Airswift, United Airlines, PLDT, Hotel 101, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Guam Visitors Bureau.

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Para sa anumang impormasyon, opinyon, isyu o maging imbitasyon, mag-e-mail sa bulgarific@gmail.com o sumulat kay Ms. Bulgarific at ipadala sa Bulgar Bldg., 538 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.

Christina Frasco, bilang DOT chief — P-BBM

ni Lolet Abania | May 30, 2022

Pinili ni President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. si Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco para mamuno sa Department of Tourism (DOT) sa ilalim ng kanyang administrasyon.

Si Frasco, na nagsilbi bilang campaign spokesperson ni Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio, ay nanalo naman sa kanyang re-election bid bilang Liloan mayor.

“She was awarded the prestigious Presidential Lingkod Bayan Regional Award by the Civil Service Commission in its 2021 search of outstanding government workers for her exemplary performance as a local chief executive through proactive initiatives towards innovation in governance and sustainable and inclusive programs fostering excellence in government service,” sabi ni incoming Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles sa isang press conference ngayong Lunes.

“She was a top-performing mayor in Central Visayas ranking number 1 among 116 mayors in the entire region 7 and ranking 1 among all 44 mayors in the province of Cebu,” ani pa Cruz-Angeles.

Si Frasco ay anak ni Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, na siyang head ng ONE Cebu, ang pinakamalaking political coalition sa Pilipinas at itinuturing na most vote-rich province.