Philippines

State auditors have flagged Department of Tourism (DOT) spending of 6.67 million PHP for “extravagant” expenses

Google Philippines is offering free help for MSMEs, as well as listing places to go and things to see recommended by the DOT on the Explore section of Google Maps

The DOT welcomes the opening of El Nido to allow more tourists to visit from 30 Oct in its second phase of travel bubble

Microtel and Wyndham hotel groups have delayed the opening of more hotels under their chains in the Philippines

Displaced tourism workers on Samal Island will be offered free skills training

123 tourism businesses in Cebu province have reopened as of 21 Oct

Philippines will allow foreigners with investment visas from Philippine agencies to enter the country

Eastern Visayas tourism stakeholders are drawing up a new 1-2 year plan for local tourism, as it is no longer realistic to follow a 15% annual growth rate target. They expected in 2020 that it would hit 2 million visitors

The Philippines government has said that it will pay the $19.3 million it owes to the Red Cross, after the Red Cross stopped conducting tests

A group of hotels, the One Boracay Hotel Group, will promote Boracay’s image as a fun and safe destination, under the campaign: “Boracay Better Than Ever”

Shopping malls have been allowed to switch back on their free wifi and lower the air conditioning temperature as part of easing measures – the public still need to wear face shields and masks, and observe social distancing

Just 95 Filipinos left the country on 21 Oct, the first day that non-essential outbound travel was permitted, but the Bureau of Immigration expects that number to increase during the Christmas season for visits to relatives overseas

The drainage project on Boracay has been delayed further by TIEZA, but are still committed to completing it by Dec 2021

The rehabilitation of the Banaue Rice Terraces is now complete, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has said, after 2 years of work

Fitch Ratings has said that the Philippines may only see a significant increase in tourists in late 2021 or early 2022

The Department of Tourism (DOT) wants to amend the age limit of foreigners granted Special Resident Retiree’s Visas (SRRV), after alarm was raised at many young Chinese retirees who are 35 years old

The Enchanted Kingdom, a theme park in Santa Rosa City, has reopened to a small crowd of weekend visitors of 200. The theme park will allow 50% of its regular capacity

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) is calling for airlines to give them the full refund for cancelled flights, as travel agents are now allowed to resume. The latest estimate of refunds owed is 315.55 million PHP, but this is likely to be much higher. Top airlines who owe refunds include Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, AirAsia, Emirates, and All Nippon Airways. A survey they conducted amongst members showed that 74% of agents will open when there is enough business to sustain operations

Hotels in GCQ and MGCQ areas will now be able to operate at 100% capacity, the DOT has said, subject to the hotel’s decision

Whether Bicol will open to domestic tourists from other regions will be decided in a tourism stakeholders’ meeting next week

The Department of Tourism (DOT) will launch a pilot study of saliva based tests for tourists, as a survey showed that 77% of respondents wanted to travel bit could not afford RT-PCR tests

Many tourism destinations are “still hesitant” to reopen without COVID- testing laboratories in their area, the DOT has said

The Ridge and Reef Corridor is a “milestone”, according to the DOT, showing that “through close collaboration between local and national government units and the private sector, we can slowly piece the tourism industry back together.”

Resort owners in Zambales are asking the DOT to allow them to open up to tourist from outside the province, as well as island hopping for residents

Ilocos Sur will now accept guests from all over Luzon, starting 15 Nov after growing interest from Metro Manila tourists

The Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon revealed that the whole 10 billion PHP allocated for tourism under the Bayanihan to Recover as One has not yet been released. He also advocated for an increase in the DOT’s 2021 budget

Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) generated 42 million PHP from on site bookings as of 19 Oct according to the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB)

21 accommodation facilities in Negros Occidental have resumed operations from 19 Oct, but are only open to local residents

The DOT in Central Visayas is encouraging its LGUs to look into outdoors and wellness and medical tourism. The LGUs should also prepare cashless payments

Coron in Palawan will reopen to local visitors by 26 Oct, and by 16 Nov, visitors from the Calamian Islands Group would be allowed to visit. The tentative date of 1 Dec has been set to allow visitors from the rest of the Philippines

Bantayan Island has now opened to visitors from Cebu province

TIEZA have announced that travel tax collections as of 30 Aug were down 83% YoY

Returning Filipinos from countries with low-middle prevalence of COVID will not have to undergo testing on entry, so long as they pass the symptom screening

Metro Manila will shorten its curfew hours from 12am – 4am, but the curfew of 8pm for minors would remain

Data from 1-11 Oct has shown that there were 536 travel requests from Ilocos to Baguio, but only 4 were approved

Baguio will reopen to tourists from Luzon, including Metro Manila, from 23 Oct, limited to 200 pax/ day, and increased gradually. The Mayor said that they and other LGUs could no longer afford to be “risk averse”, and that all tourists will need to book ahead and be tested

Minors and senior citizens in Lapu-Lapu City will be allowed to check in to hotel and resorts

Lapu-Lapu City has reminded tourists that they must make reservations before coming to the beach, as capacity is still limited to 50%

Tourists wanting to visit Bantayan Island in Cebu must book accommodation ahead of their trip. The island officially reopened on the 16 Oct

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has welcomed Baguio’s decision to accept tourists again from 22 Oct, and will be limited to 200 pax/ day

A private sector tourism council has been organised for Baguio and 5 neighbouring towns in Benguet province (Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay), as the towns prepare to join the Ridge and Reef travel corridor with Baguio and Ilocos. The tourism destinations have not yet been identified from the 5 towns for the corridor

Travel between GCQ and MGCQ areas will now be allowed, subject to LGU approval

Travel agents, tour operators and reservation services can resume operations at 50% capacity in GCQ areas, 100% in MGCQ areas. Mall-wide sales will also be allowed in both GCQ and MGCQ areas, and the age restrictions for those to go out is now 15-65 years old

The Department of Health (DOH) has said that the Baguio pilot for antigen testing needs more samples before reaching a final conclusion – only 200 have been collected, but it needs almost 1,000 to be conclusive

The Lapu-Lapu City Mayor is appealing to the Inter-Agency Task Force to allow those under 21 years old and senior citizens to be able to check in to hotels and resorts with their family

The Department of Labor and Employment has ruled out deferment and exemption of payment of the 13th month pay for 2020, after considering allowing employers to defer the payment – however, they may provide subsidies or bank loans to micro and small enterprises to pay it

In Manila, there are 10 hotels which have been accredited for staycations, whilst Calabarzon has 4. Hotels which are being used as quarantine facilities cannot also offer staycations. Staycation hotels can operate at 100% occupancy, so long as they observe the staffing guidelines of 50% in GCQ areas

The Baguio City representative has proposed that the 3.9 billion PHP 2021 budget for the Department of Tourism should be restored – it is currently allocated 3.8 billion

4.8 million Filipino workers have been affected by the pandemic – last year, 5.7 million were employed by the tourism industry. The DOT have said that either the tourism workers have been made redundant, or they have had salary reductions

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has said that it expects the number of inbound visitors to increase from Jan, once vaccines become more available. Arrivals from Jan-Sep were just 3.5 million pax vs 2019’s 13 million pax

Cebu Safari Adventure Park will be declared a tourism destination

The DOT announced that divers from GCQ areas will now be welcome to visit the Batangas for diving

A study has shown that 95% of Oslob’s endangered whale sharks have been injured due to tourism activities, significantly more injuries than other places where whale shark feeding is prohibited

Tourism will suffer bigger declines than expected, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has updated. They expect it to generate just one third of its 2019 revenue, but they see a 12% recovery in 2021

Talisay City Mayor is pushing for the development of tourism in his city, including building a lechon park for tourists to sample the best lechon in the city. They are also looking at agro-tourism opportunities

52 tourism businesses in Cebu province have been allowed to operate under MGCQ, spanning 14 towns and cities

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) sees some recovery by Q1 2021, whilst the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) says that for a tourism recovery to be in place, it needs “public reassurance that safety guidelines are followed, as well as reasonable costs and ease of travel”

LGUs in Iloilo should start planning their tourism development and promotions, the provincial government has told them

The DOT will allocate 8 million PHP to pay for RT-PCR tests for Boracay workers as part of a campaign to show that safety is the “unparalleled priority for reopening domestic tourism.” The latest domestic tourist arrivals to Boracay are 658 as of 11 Oct, with 289 coming from Metro Manila

Lapu-Lapu City will hold a tourism fair, Balik Turismo Fair, on 17 Oct

The DOF has said that they are still waiting for airlines to submit their loan plan and that as of 12 Oct, no airline had submitted the full loan package paperwork

The “CARES for Tourism Rehabilitation and Vitalization of Enterprises and Livelihood (TRAVEL)” program will offer tourism MSMEs zero interest, no collateral loans, with the terms up to 4 years including a 1 year grace period

: The World Bank sees Philippines’ GDP recovering to pre-pandemic levels by 2022, due to its large number of informal workers in the service sector. It predicts that GDP will decrease by 6.9% in 2020, the worst result in 35 years, and 2021 growth would be 5.3%

Lapu-Lapu City has ordered its hotels and resorts to implement digital contact tracing by 30 Nov

The Enchanted Kingdom theme park, the only theme park in the Philippines, will reopen in Oct

Ilocos Norte will open up for tourists from Luzon from next week, even those under GCQ areas. Visitors would need a negative test result, and the Department of Tourism (DOT) will help to provide a system for visitors to register. Baguio City has now received 179 travel requests, and had 1,701 registrations on their visitor system, VISITA

The DOT has permitted 8 luxury hotels in Metro Manila to reopen for staycations

5 Local Governmnt Units (LGUS) in Pangasinan are now open for Region 1 guests: Bolinao, Dasol, Manaoag, Sual and Alaminos City, under the Ridge and Reef Travel Corridor initiative. The DOT is planning to launch a universal website similar to Baguio’s VISITA registration system for the whole Region 1

Diving establishments under GCQ areas, such as the Batangas, will be able to operate for recreational visitors

A road leading to a tourist site in Biliran, costing 92 million PHP, has been completed

The Foreign Minister of China and Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary have “confirmed the prospective establishment of a Fast Lane for Urgently Needed Personnel Exchanges between the Philippines and China to facilitate, with due safeguards, the movement of essential official exchanges and travel by personnel in crucial industries such as business and trade, infrastructure, logistics, production, and technical services.”

El Salvador city in Misamis Oriental has allowed the reopening of a pilgrimage site, the Divine Mercy Shrine, at 50% capacity. Northern Mindanao is also permitting tourism businesses to reopen, with 281 approved

Palawan will open Coron to tourists only if there are no more cases in the area

The Philippine Genome Center’s COVID-19 testing lab will open for drive-thru and on foot swabbing for elective testing, for those who need it for travel clearance

14.1 million PHP was generated in the September Online Sale of the Hotel and Marketing Association, with over 1,000 vouchers sold. 36.3% were for Pasay and Manila hotels, 13.3% for Boracay Island

The Aklan governor is sad about the low arrival numbers to Boracay island, averaging around 50 visitors per day compared to its previous 50,000. They admit that needing a swab test is the biggest obstacle for recovery. They are now working on a requirement that Western Visayas tourists will not need a swab test, as they previously did not require that before the island was reopened to all domestic tourists

The ban on commercial flights to Negros Oriental still stands

The Bureau of Immigration has stressed that foreigners are still not permitted to enter the Philippines – only spouses and minor children of Filipinos are allowed to enter

86% of Filipinos have been stressed over COVID-19, a Social Weather Stations survey has revealed

8/10 Filipinos think positively about the government’s response to COVID-19

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) of the Department of Tourism (DOT) will launch a new app which will allow booking of hotels, flights and tours, as well as provide updated information about pre-travel requirements. It is aiming to launch in Oct and will be able to integrate with different local government unit (LGU) apps such as VISITA in Baguio and the Ultimate Bohol Experience (UBE)

A new campaign, Ingat Angat Tayong Lahat, has been launched by the private sector to encourage consumer confidence, and is across retail, F&B, banking, leisure and telcos

Bohol may open Panglao island by Nov, the governor has said. Tourists who want to visit need to register on a website to obtain a QR code, and will need a negative RT-PCR test. They will initially target group travellers, as they are easier to monitor

38 tourism businesses will reopen in Pampanga, including 7 hotels

Cebu, Palawan, Siargao and Boracay island have been named in the top 10 Asian islands list for Condé Nast Traveler

The Department of Health has said that rapid antigen tests may not be suitable for tourists, frequent travellers and cross border workers, as the Baguio pilot revealed that it did not have the same accuracy as the RT-PCR

A World Bank survey has shown that 4/10 companies in the Philippines temporarily suspended operations in Jul, whilst 15% permanently closed. 1 in 5 of companies in arts, entertainment and recreation, tourism and food services permanently closed in Cebu, the National Capital Region, Calabarzon and Central Luzon. Companies reported uncertainty over reopening, with 36% saying they could remain open only for the next 3 months

A maximum of 50 tourists per day are permitted to visit Ilocos Norte, which opened on 1 Oct

Cebu City is working on a mobile app for tourists, due to be launcvhed in 2021, which would reduce the need for physical contact

The government is calling for Filipinos to support domestic tourism

Boracay resort owners are asking for the requirement for RT-PCR tests be replaced by antigen testing instead, to allow more visitors. 53 tourists arrived on 2 Oct

San Miguel Corp this month will start working on the new Manila airport in Bulacan this which is expected to be ready in 5-6 years

General Santos city will continue to implement priority tourism infrastructure projects, including the Queen Tuna Park and pocket parks projects

The government is working on the Phase 3 easing restrictions roadmap, but for now it will remain at DORSCON Orange levels

A Social Weather Stations survey has shown that the unemployment rate has dropped slightly from Jul, to 39.5% in Sep, around 23.7 million Filipinos

Bohol is encouraging airlines to fly back to Bohol Panglao International Airport with regular flights, and a “calibrated reopening of commercial domestic flights”

Visitors to Boracay could get up to 75% discount on hotel accommodation, to offset the cost of the mandatory RT-PCR test

Baguio is running parallel RT-PCR and antigen tests on arrivals to see if antigen tests could be used for tourists with a great enough level of accuracy

The Philippines reported 3,190 new cases on 4 Oct, its largest increase since 21 Sep

1,249 prospective visitors have registered on the Baguio VISITA portal, with 107 making travel requests. 43 have been approved from Region 1 to visit, and will be spread out throughout Oct. There are also approved requests for Nov and Dec

17 business sectors will be permitted to operate at 100% capacity in GCQ areas, including non-leisure activities in malls and commercial areas. Dine-in at restaurants will be allowed at more than 50% capacity with social distancing, and food delivery is allowed 24 hrs/ day

Discovery World, a hospitality company, will invest 5.8 million PHP in Cay Islands corp, an owner of real estate property in El Nido, Palawan

The Tourism Secretary has reassured the public that the results of RT-PCR tests cannot be faked, as they are linked to a QR code which can verify its authenticity

The regular Palace briefings by Duterte’s spokesperson will be held in Boracay on Monday 5 Oct, to help attract more tourists

Just 35 tourists visited Boracay on its first day of reopening to tourists from all regions. Just 7 of these came from Metro Manila

More tourism businesses are signing up for accreditation by the Department of Tourism (DOT) through its digitisation program, up 32.36% YoY as of 15 Sep

Philippine Airlines will resume its flights to Boracay on 4 Oct, delayed from the original plan of 1 Oct. They will fly to Caticlan twice/ week

Ilocos Norte is now open to tourists, with an Ilocos Norte Tourist Triage South located near the Badoc gateway for arriving travellers to have their safe pass checked

Batanes is not planning to open up to domestic tourism in 2020, the Tourism Secretary has confirmed. The province has had its first case in the province, after remaining COVID-free

30.7% of Filipinos went hungry at least once in Q3 due to not enough food to eat, according to a new Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, a jump of 20.9% in the July survey. The Department of Social Welfare and Development also admitted that they had not distributed a 2nd tranche of 10 billion PHP allocated to poor families

Travellers from Palawan will now be able to visit El Nido after an executive order from the Local Government Unit (LGU). Tourists will need health checks, fill in a health declaration form and pre-book accommodation. Island hopping tours will also open but visitors will need their own snorkelling equipment as rentals are banned

The need for an RT-PCR test for Western Visayas tourists to visit Boracay may lead to a decline in their number, due to the difficulty in obtaining the test and the expense involved. Previously, tourists required just a health declaration form. 3,780 tourists visited Boracay between 16 Jun-20 Sep

Changing Metro Manila’s status from GCQ to MGCQ may be possible by November, the Presidential spokesperson has said

Dive operators in Mabini, Batangas, are asking for the government to reopen diving in Anilao

Philippine hoteliers are questioning the strict measures implemented for staycations, which include every family member who live in one household to undergo screening. They pointed out that the cost of antigen testing for a family of 4 could cost the same as the room rate

Local tourists visiting Boracay will not need a travel authority from the Philippine National Police, the Tourism Secretary has clarified

Fines of 5,000 PHP and one year imprisonment face tourists in Cebu who do not follow the health protocols. The governor said that they are not going for “quantity but quality” tourists

Baguio City will open to domestic tourism from Region 1 on 1 Oct, despite the increase of cases in the city. The tourists who visit initially will be limited in the places to which they can visit, including the public market and residential areas

The Indonesian Travel Agent Association (ASTINDO) is calling for the government to reopen Indonesia’s borders with low-risk countries

Metro Manila will remain under GCQ from 1-31 Oct, along with Batangas, Tacloban City, Bacolod City, Iligan City and Iloilo City

Staycations will be permitted from 1 Oct. The regulations have now been clarified: • Must only be in 4 or 5* hotels with Certificates of Authority to Operate for Staycations by the DOT • Negative result from antigen test on the same day as check-in • Guests can only staycation in the province where they are located • A maximum of 2 guests from the same household can be in a rom of 20-29 sqm, 3 in 30-39 sqm and 4 in 40-49 sqm rooms • Cashless payment only • Hotels are able to operate restaurants, but not their bars, gyms and swimming pools

Dinagat Islands have launched a new type of tourism based on community conservation, trying to harmonise the relationship between communities and the environment

The Presidential spokesperson has said that the reopening of Boracay means that it is possible for the Philippines to work, if health is taken care of. The Tourism Secretary said that “the reopening of Boracay to new market sources signals a gathering momentum for domestic tourism all over the country.”

The Tourism Secretary has said that capacities at tourism destinations have been scaled down, with sustainability at its core

Bohol might reopen next in Oct, the Presidential spokesperson said

The Philippines crossed the 300,000 case mark on 26 Sep, but the cases seem to be slowing down

Lapu-Lapu city is discouraging the use of homestay apps such as Airbnb as they have “weak monitoring mechanisms on the compliance of minimum public health standards.”

PHITEX generated 15.6 million PHP from initial deals, preliminary numbers which were released that cover 20% of the sellers. It was the first hybrid event in the Philippines. The Tourism Secretary thinks that MICE travel “might take the lead” over leisure travel, judging from the results of the show

Baguio City has had a record number of cases on 24 Sep, 52, linked to a slaughterhouse

Davao City is looking at opening up 3 additional flights to/ from Manila

The Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) opened on 23 Sep

Consumer confidence in Q3 has fallen to record lows, and businesses are at their most pessimistic for 11 years

Baguio City will trial the use of antigen tests for tourists, as a faster and cheaper alternative to RT-PCR tests

104 tourism sites in Bicol have now been reopened, including resorts, natural tourism areas and historical landmarks

The DOT has proposed that there should be no age restrictions on tourists visiting Boracay Island as “Filipinos travel in families”. They have also revealed that 4.8 million of 5.7 million tourism workers have either lost their jobs or have had salary cuts

Foreign arrivals from Jan-Aug are down by 72.26% to just 1,318,719

Pangasinan town has reopened its ecotourism site at the Bangrin Marine Protected Area. It has extended the boardwalk from just 300m to 1km to the mangrove forest

The trade is welcoming the reopening of Boracay, but concerned about potential clashes between local government units’ (LGU) guidelines

The Manila Bay project has had more red flags raised by Infrawatch, a nongovernment think tank, who says that the project was likely overpriced, and there was just one bidder

Boracay will open to travellers from GCQ areas, including Metro Manila, from 1 Oct. Boracay’s hotels will offer discounts of up to 75% as it prepares for visitors from outside the Western Visayas. Travellers will need to have reservations, and will need a health certificate and RT-PCR test result before they are allowed entry. From 16 Jun – 20 Sep, just 3,780 tourists visited the island

Manila’s Mayor has said that he is focusing on helping businesses survive the pandemic, with high-impact projects continuing

Hotels and businesses along the Roxas Boulevard will benefit from the new Manila Bay white sand project, which partially opened on 20 Sep

The Baguio-Ilocos travel corridor might change into a two region travel bubble to include the Cordillera. The government is aiming to “jumpstart the local tourism industry [and] allow it to become the major driver for socioeconomic growth once more”. Tourism will be permitted in the Baguio-Ilocos travel corridor from 1 Oct, with a limit of 200 tourists per day into Baguio and 50 per day into Ilocos

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) have announced that they are negotiating an agreement with the Korean Association of Travel Agencies, in the hope of standardising tour costs, set up a complaints committee and a recommended list of destinations

According to the Amadeus Travel Insights Bulletin, Filipino travellers’ lead time for booking domestic flights has increased by 22% compared to pre-pandemic

Tourism tax paid by Filipinos and foreigners leaving the Philippines is estimated to drop by 83% in 2020. The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) estimates that this will normalise in 2024

Resort owners in Mabini town in Batangas have appealed for the Department of Tourism (DOT) to reopen their operations, after they were all ordered to close after a few resorts had exceeded the regulations on operating capacity

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has reassured local government units (LGUs) that they will have the final decision on tourism in their area

PH Resorts Group are expecting to launch the Emerald Bay integrated resort in Mactan, Cebu by Q2 2022, which will have casinos as well as hotel rooms along the beachfront

The Philippines reported its lowest case numbers in 15 days on 22 Sep

The moratorium on loans repayments will remain as part of the extension of the declaration of calamity in the Philippines, with a 60-day extension. The state of calamity has been renewed until 12 Sep 2021, unless earlier lifted

Quezon has reopened to domestic tourism, but health protocols will be in place. Tourists will need to show medical certificates, health clearances and travel passes if coming from another region

The DOT will earmark 1.44 billion PHP to market the Philippines to both international and domestic tourists, with domestic receiving the majority, 915 million PHP, international marketing 360 million PHP. They plan to develop regional circuits for domestic tourism, including North Luzon Circuit, Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao

Visitors to Tagaytay from areas under GCQ such as Metro Manila will need to show a travel pass

The loan program as part of Bayanihan 2 will be interest-free with zero collateral, the Tourism Secretary has announced. They will be payable in 3 years, with a one-year grace period

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) predict a drop in tax collections in 2021 of about 90% vs 2019

The Philippines has become one of the latest destinations certified with the WTTC’s Safe Travels stamp

The government has approved the pilot use of antigen tests to screen travellers

International arrivals from Jan-Aug fell by 76.3% YoY, with just 1.32 million tourists. Inbound tourism receipts also fell 75.2%, to 81.05 billion PHP

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) have forecast that “normalcy” in tourism would only resume by 2024

The Philippines may allow nurses and other medical professionals to travel abroad for employment after a ban was imposed earlier in the year

Baguio is forecasting that it may receive 200 tourists/ day once it reopens on 22 Sep. It will not allow pregnant tourists, nor those 60 and above. All tourists will need to take an RT-PCR test before entering

The DOT prefers antigen testing to RT-PCR tests prior to travel because of the faster result, despite WHO cautions against using it

Duterte will “definitely” extend the state of calamity declaration in the Philippines, which was previously set to expire by 30 Sep

The representative for Aklan has called for the DOT to pay attention to the province beyond Boracay, highlighting underdeveloped tourism sites which are lacking in infrastructure

The Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) will be held in Bohol as a hybrid virtual-physical event on 22-24 Sep

Other regions will be watching how successful the Baguio-Ilocos bubble (ridge to reef) scheme will be, before choosing to reopen domestic tourism. These regions are also awaiting for COVID-19 laboratories to be established, something which the DOT has requested from the Health department

Lapu-Lapu is preparing its regulations for tourism reopening

The Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) has said that its airline members (Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Philippines AirAsia) expect to get 140 million PHP loan assistance and 10 billion PHP for loans/ equity under the Bayanihan 2 Act, but that they may only get the money in Dec due to the long loan application process

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the DOT and motorcycle clubs in the Philippines will join together in a motorcycle caravan to showcase hard-to-reach tourism destinations. It will also encourage this niche product

Workations will be a new trend at Philippines hotels, the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association has said, as will families seeking stable internet connections so that their children can study

A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey has shown that 57% of Filipinos believe “the worst is yet to come”, an increase from just 10% in May

Bohol has lost 10 billion PHP and around 200,000 (42%) of its workforce have lost jobs

Puerto Princesa City has allocated 205 million PHP for tourism recovery, initially used for safety measures such as traveller health screenings. Its tourism revenue has dropped by 80%

The DOT has partnered with The Powerpuff Girls in a safe tourism campaign S.A.F.E. T.R.I.P. to promote health protocols

10,000 business process outsourcing industry jobs will be made available for displaced workers from the tourism industry in a partnership between the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Concentrix Philippines

A new survey by McKinsey in Jul shows: • 59% of Filipinos have had their income negatively affected • 74% have cut back on spending until conditions improve • 53% are afraid to go out in case they get infected

The HSMA welcomes staycations being permitted under GCQ areas, saying that this will help stimulate tourism

Staycations will now be allowed in hotels under GCQ areas, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has confirmed. The exact regulations have not yet been released, and it is also subject to the Local Government Unit’s approval

The Bayanihan To Recover as One Act, with its funds for tourism, has finally been signed into law by Duterte

Hotels can receive guests under “specialised programs” of the Department of Tourism, although the exact nature of the programs and number of guests is yet to be announced

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park has estimated that they have unrealised income of 80 million PHP, with zero arrivals from 15 Mar to the present. The park needs 50 million PHP to survive the year – currently it has only generated 20.68 million PHP

The HSMA have seen an increase in the number of customers looking for staycations with a stable wifi, allowing children to study, under a concept of Work + Study + Play

Beach marshalls will be deployed once beaches reopen, who will ensure physical distancing amongst guests, but concessions, shops and vendors will be strictly banned

The Hotels Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) have launched a 2-week sale focusing on flexible hotel and resort bookings across the country. These bookings will have a one-year validity

An Asian Development Bank (ADB) report, “Reviving Tourism amid the COVID-19 pandemic”, noted that promoting domestic tourism in the Philippines could generate a 20% surplus of local tourists replacing foreigners, as well as a 30% surplus in expenditure

The Department of Health has said that regulations and guidelines on antigen tests will have to be developed before the tests are allowed. They reminded the public that the test must be registered with the FDA and validated by an institution that they have sufficient sensitivity (80% at least)

Antigen tests will be allowed to screen local tourists prior to travel, should there be no RT-PCR or swab tests available

A North Luzon travel fair will be held to promote the opening of a tourism corridor of Baguio – Ilocos on 22 Sep

The DOT has clarified that Local Government Units (LGUs) are the ones who will decide whether tourism should reopen, and that just because an area is under MGCQ does not mean that tourism will resume

Bicol International Airport is expected to open in Q1 2021, with the project now 68% complete

The DOT has moved its food and travel festival, “Kain na”, online this year, from 15-18 Sep. It will include food tourism exchanges, online sales platform, digital training and food demonstrations

There are signs that the Philippines has succeeded in flattening the curve, a University of the Philippines research team has said. The reproduction number is also falling, as is the positivity rate

The government will stop the white sand rehabilitation of Manila Bay if it is proven that it is harmful to visitors’ health

Talisay is preparing for the reopening of Barangay Tapul for tourists who are seeking nature

Many furloughed Filipino cruise ship workers are expected to remain without jobs until Mar 2021

The DOT will hold the Philippine International Dive Expo virtually in Oct, aiming to position the country as a leading dive travel business hub

Next year’s government budget may see 35.7 billion PHP for tourism development, including bounce-back aid for tourism businesses

The Cebu Alliance of Tour Operations Specialists (CATOS) is calling for a tourism-specific recovery package, including financial assistance, to maintain jobs

Rajah Travel Corporation are launching a new training program for tourism students, aiming to bridge the gap between academic courses and the actual workplace. It will launch 5 Oct and will include sessions on jargon, fares, pricing and tariffs beyond GDS, as well as soft skills

The DOT is identifying more tourism circuits that can be activated now that many provinces are under MGCQ and tourism is allowed once more. These would be similar to the Ridge to Reef tourism corridors

July’s unemployment rate declined vs April’s levels, at 10% vs 17.7%. The Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary forecasts that by 2022 it should return to 4-5%

Moody’s now predicts that the Philippines economy could see a 7% contraction in 2020. Its earlier prediction was a decline of 4.5%

White sand” beaches that are to be created on Manila Bay’s naturally grey coloured shores have caused controversy. It is part of Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program to save the bay from pollution

The national government and local government units (LGUs) are working closely together to decide on tourism reopenings to ensure that it is done in a safe manner, the Presidential spokesman has said

The Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) has said that Phuket tourism businesses have lost $5.72 million USD in H1 2020

Tourist sites in Cebu City are being closely monitored to check for adherence to the health protocols, as they start to reopen for tourists now that the city is under MGCQ

The Tourism Secretary has said that she hopes to see the Ridge to Reef tourism bubble emulated across the country. The DOT is also working to collaborate with the Baguio City Tourism Council to implement Baguio’s monitoring app, to sponsor a photo contest, establish Baguio rebranding marketing and promotional projects, set up the baguiocreativecity.com platform and revive the weaving and fashion industry. They will focus on sustainable growth, and quality over quantity for tourists

Baguio will open to tourists from the Ilocos region from 21 Sep. Entry will be regulated and visitors’ movements monitored

The Philippines reported its lowest daily case numbers for a month on 3 Sep, at 1,987 cases

The Philippines Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) estimated that travel agents and consumers are owed 940 million PHP in airline refunds. Cebu Pacific has explained that refunds are taking up to 5 months from the date in which they were filed to be paid out, due to the high cancellation rates still ongoing. The PTAA has said that only 20 of its members are currently operating, serving overseas Filipino workers and seafarers

The Bayanihan 2 Act will not be sufficient to sustain workers and companies, according to a think tank, with the cash subsidies putting recipients below the poverty line. They estimate 27% of Filipinos ae jobless or have been forced to take reduced pay

Ilocos Sur has seen 2 hotels closed and Vigan City, a UNESCO world heritage site, is now like a “ghost town”

The reopening procedure for Ilocos Norte to tourism includes protocols such as pre-booking and pre-registering their travel itinerary using the Stay IN Tourist Registration System and limiting the tourists’ arrivals between 6am – 10am. Tourists will also need to have a travel authority, medical certificate, a health declaration form no earlier than 48 hours prior to departure, and a negative rapid antigen test

The DOT will not force local governments to reopen to tourism, saying that “health and safety are still our priority”

Leisure trips are allowed for Metro Manila residents to certain point-to-point destinations, such as resort islands. These islands require a negative RT-PCR test result, and the resort islands operate strict health and safety SOPs

Tacloban City has had to suspend its tourism activity after being placed under GCQ for one month until the end of Sep

Sipalay in Negros Occidental has extended the ban on tourism for another 15 days, until 15 Sep

Businesses on Boracay Island are really suffering, with several of the oldest stores and restaurants deciding to close permanently. Businesses say that the situation had already worsened by the choice to attract low-end Chinese tourists to the island pre-pandemic. As of 13 Aug, just 1,303 tourists have visited the island

Religious gatherings will be allowed in Metro Manila once more at 10% of the venue capacity

Metro Manila will remain under GCQ, whilst Cebu City has had its lockdown relaxed to MGCQ until 30 Sep

The DOT will revise its targets under the National Tourism Development Plan 2016-2022. Its previous targets were 10.4 million foreign visitors and 776 billion PHP revenue in 2021, and 12 million and 922 billion PHP by 2022

The DOT may face a budget cut of -5.33% in 2021, with other government departments also facing cuts, especially to their budgets for Travels, Conventions and Seminars

Mactan-Cebu International Airport now has a dedicated RT-PCR test facility for departing passengers, but hat this wasn’t mandatory. Test results are available within 36-48 hours

The Philippine Association of Convention/ Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers estimates opportunity revenue losses of 2.1 billion PHP to date, and 9,000 jobs at risk

Farm tourism is suffering just as much as other tourism products, the National Farm Tourism Program has said

Baguio City will reopen all parks, the night market and start the weekly pedestrianisation of certain areas of the city from Sep for local residents, but the plan to reopen to other visitors, especially from Manila, is suspended

A new project has been launched to help the DOT get input from the public to create research-based projects and policies for its current domestic tourism programs. They are looking for case studies on cultural heritage, creative industries and ecotourism, amongst others

El Nido has opened its first government medical facility, with the Tourism Secretary set to donate lab equipment, as a step to be able to reopen to tourism

El Nido has opened its first government medical facility, with the Tourism Secretary set to donate lab equipment, as a step to be able to reopen to tourism

Cebu City should continue to expect strict measures, even if its lockdown status is downgraded to MGCQ

Travellers from Metro Manila to Cebu will need to get a “letter of coordination” prior to travel

The Philippines will host the 3rd international conference on ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals on 4 Sep

Thee hotels at Resorts World Manila, in partnership with Cebu Pacific, will offer accommodation with COVID-19 testing packages for Cebu Pacific passengers, from 27 Aug

The Tourism Congress of the Philippines recognises that tourism players’ expectations for funding needs to be managed, as they estimated that they would actually need 80 billion PHP, compared to the Bayanihan 2’s 10 billion PHP and the 38.4 billion PHP capital infusion for general SMEs. Nevertheless, they will work with the DOT on the guidelines for loans and fair distribution

Baguio City has lost around 1.6 billion PHP in gross revenue from tourism

The Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) will be a hybrid event this year, with 100 Philippine sellers and 100 foreign buyers from 22-24 Sep

Baguio City is considering opening up to visitors from the Ilocos region first when it reopens – this is unlikely to be in Sep, the tourism offer said. It may develop a tourism corridor with La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur

Two explosions by suicide bombers in Jolo, Sulu, killed 11 people and left 24 wounded

Negros Occidental will be under a 4-day lockdown from 28-31 Aug, to allow testing of 10,000 people with COVID-19 symptoms, with record high new cases

The tourism sector will be able to access concessional loan terms under Small Business Corp CARES program, the Trade and Industry Secretary reassured the industry. SMEs can borrow up to 500,000 PHP

The Tourism Promotions Board has praised Manila’s initiative of clearing up public spaces, which will make it more interesting for tourists, enabling outdoor walking tours once tourism reopens

The Tourism Congress of the Philippines has thanked Congress for approving the 10 billion PHP budget for tourism under the Bayanihan 2 bill, saying “This will help over 4.8 million direct and indirect workers that have been affected by the various stages of community quarantine since last March.”

The Central Visayas lost the opportunity for $700 million USD from foreign tourist arrivals

The House and Senate came to a compromise for the 10 billion PHP allocated to tourism in the Bayanihan 2 bill, deciding to allocate 1 billion PHP for infrastructure, 3 billion PHP for financial aid for displaced tourism workers and 6 billion PHP for loans through Small Business Corp

Megaworld Hotels Group has said that they have managed to survive thanks to embracing new business models, hosting the employees of Business Process Outsourcing Firms, as well as take business online, with a virtual events management platform

Only 3.3 million Filipinos have been made jobless due to the pandemic, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced, much below the numbers quotes in the Social Weather Stations survey which showed that 27.3 million have become unemployed

The Civil Aeronautics Board has said that they may need to change the air passenger bill of rights to fit current developments, advocating for more support for passengers

A curfew between 8pm to 5am will be imposed in Metro Manila, as well as groups limited to 10 people instead of 10% of a venue during their “stricter” General Community Quarantine (GCQ). Metro Manila was downgraded from the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) to GCQ, which will run until 31 Aug

The Philippine MICE conference, will be held virtually in Oct, with this year’s theme: Future-ready MICE: Renew, Reboot and Revitalise. It will be held free of charge to industry professionals

The Department of Tourism launched the Philippine Harvest e-commerce site, to promote Filipino culture through local food

AirAsia Philippines has said that its Q2 passengers declined by 99% YoY, with just 29,111 pax carried

The DOT of Central Visayas will help Lapu-Lapu City to reopen to tourism, with hotels forecasting being able to open in Sep

Cebu City residents returning from Metro Manila will need to undergo a 14-day quarantine in isolation centres to prevent the spreading of COVID-19

Cebu Pacific has resumed its domestic flights from Manila, as the city reverted to GCQ

Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro province is allowing domestic tourists to visit, with the first group expected to arrive on 19 Aug. Visitors must have a recent negative test, as well as point to point travel proof from their origin to their accommodation. On the island, they will only be allowed to use hotel provided vehicles to get around the island. The town has lost around 2.09 billion PHP from Mar to Jun

Workers in the hospitality and tourism sector with symptoms of COVID-19 would be required to undergo swab tests, the government has clarified, after confusion where it seemed that all tourism workers would need to have swab tests on a regular basis

Officials and business owners in Boracay are planning to open the island to selected domestic and foreign tourists by Oct. The initial travel bubble is tipped to be with South Korea, as Philippine Airlines flies between Seoul and Kalibo International Airport. Since reopening, only 1,303 tourists had visited from 16 Jun to 13 Aug

Support for the tourism sector is increasing, as a Cabinet secretary, lawmaker and former tourism secretary all calling for the 10 billion PHP allocation to remain with the DOT

A House leader called on tourism players not to drag Congress into in-fighting after the Tourism Congress of the Philippines criticised the diversion of funds from the Department of Tourism (DOT) to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA)

The Department of Agriculture is strengthening ties with the DOT to support farm tourism

The DOT has said that the tourism industry is in a “critical status”, as she pushed for a change to allocate Bayanihan 2 bill funds for credit facilities, rather than infrastructure. Latest statistics show that Jan – Jul tourism receipts dropped to 81.05 billion PHP, 71.5% down YoY. Jan – Jul foreign arrivals were at just 1.32 million. This comes after the bill was passed, but reallocated 10 billion PHP earmarked for the DOT to TIEZA

A tourist guide has set up a fund for the coach men of Intramuros, Manila, to help buy food for the horses and support their livelihood

The DOT forecasts tourism arrivals in 2021 to be renewed, and once travel restrictions are lifted, they will engage with top tourist markets such as South Korea, China, Japan and the USA

The Tourism Congress of the Philippines has called for the allocation of 10 billion PHP to the DOT to remain in the Bayanihan bill, saying “Who will use those infrastructure when we’re all dead?”

A Social Weather Station Survey has shown that 79% of Filipinos believe that their lives have worsened in the past year

Panglao in Bohol is preparing to open to domestic and international tourists, partnering with neighbouring source markets. No date has been decided upon yet

The Philippines will have the highest unemployment rate in SE Asia by the end of the year, with Maybank expecting it to reach 18.5%

If the MECQ is lifted in Metro Manila, more granular lockdowns may be implemented, imposing restrictions in smaller areas instead of whole regions

Lapu-Lapu City is preparing to reopen its tourism industry for domestic travel, with the local tourism authority starting checks on hotels and resorts

Residents of Boracay have been roped into cleaning up the wetlands, with volunteers receiving 5kg of rice per household for the weekly cleanup

Some Manila malls are considering converting into car storage or e-commerce backend facilities, with a drop in footfall

The Pavilions Hotels and Resorts will open their first property in the Philippines in El Nido, Palawan, in Q1 2022

The Tourism Congress of the Philippines estimates that the industry has lost 190 billion PHP from Mar to Jul

Cebu Pacific is increasing the frequency of its flights to Dubai

The Filipino Consul General in Thailand has attacked a Thai newspaper after it called Philippines the “Land of COVID-19” in a headline referring to Filipino international school teachers being allowed to enter Thailand for work

The US Embassy in the Philippines has warned American citizens to reconsider travel to the Philippines

No additional restrictions have been imposed after the MECQ was reimposed in Metro Manila, with existing travel restrictions unchanged. International flights to Manila, Cebu and Clark continue

Oslob town is seeing just 8-10 visitors daily since 1 Aug, a big drop from the 1,000 tourists it used to see pre-pandemic. The town has lost 35 million PHP in tourism income

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) have revealed that the economy contracted by 16.5% in Q2. Business leaders are calling for a recovery plan focusing on health to regain public confidence, as the key to reviving the economy

The Hundred Islands National Park will reopen to Pangasinan residents from 8 Aug. Requirements to visit including an age limitation from 21 – 59 allowed to enter, health certificates and registration. Online reservation is encouraged and will be prioritised. Only 1,000 pax will be allowed per day, distributed across the 3 parks

Asturias in western Cebu has been developing its marine tourism. A province not previously known for its tourism products, it has retrained fishermen to lead dolphin watching cruises, and is building ziplines and other activities

The Philippines has disputed the claim that it now has the most COVID-19 cases in SE Asia, and that this was simply because Indonesia was not testing enough

The Cuatro Islas has had a new tourism infrastructure development plan endorsed by the regional council, which will position it as a prime tourist destination in the Eastern Visayas

All commuters must wear face shields as well as masks on public transport. Talking on mobile phones is also discouraged

Baguio is planning what regulations need to be in place for when it opens to tourism, which will include advanced registration, COVID testing and expecting isolation whilst waiting for test results. The city will also limit the number of visitors per day

The Eastern Visayas are planning for a restart for domestic tourism, becoming known as a fun yet safe place

Consumer spending will decline by 7.8% this year, according to new research, rebounding to 5.5% in 2021

Many were left stranded at Manila airport after the cancellation of domestic flights from the capital

3.5 million Filipinos have been stranded across the country due to lockdown rules

The House of Representatives have approved the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, which contains vital tourism funding

Some hotels are refusing to accommodate returning overseas Filipino workers as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration has not settled its financial obligations which amount to 17.5 million PHP

Davao International Airport will have holding facilities with up to 1,000 beds and a lab equipped to handle RT-PCR tests for arriving air passengers. However, international flights to the airport remain unavailable

The Tourism Congress of the Philippines is backing the idea of travel bubbles direct to destinations, bypassing Manila to avoid impact from lockdowns

Hospitality workers have been told to upgrade their skills to ensure their employability

Metro Manila will return to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) from 4 – 18 Aug, after a record increase of COVID-19 cases

Ilocos provincial government is not aiming to build up tourist confidence yet, but is rather focusing on educating tourism businesses, as well as run hyperlocal pop-up activities targeting residents. The province has also distributed cash assistance to 1,000 displaced tourism workers. It estimates it has lost 250 million PHP from Mar – May

Philippines has now surpassed the 100,000 cases mark, with its highest spike of cases on Sunday of 5,032

The country experienced its highest spike in cases with 4,963 being detected on 1 Aug

8 policemen will be assigned to each tourist destination in Cebu to ensure tourists are obeying the health protocols

Bohol has lost at least 1.014 billion PHP during the time that Panglao island was closed for 4 months. But despite the island reopening for domestic tourism, it has seen little arrivals

President Duterte has said that a vaccine is required for COVID-19 before he could draw up a roadmap for the country’s recovery

Passenger ships will now be allowed to dock in Cebu, so long as pax and crew follow the health and safety protocols of a GCQ area

80 groups representing 80,000 doctors and a million nurses have urged President Duterte to reimpose stricter lockdown in Metro Manila, warning of a collapse in the healthcare system from fast increasing COVID-19 cases as Friday saw the biggest daily jump in cases of 4,603

The average daily rates (ADR) of Metro Manila hotels are expected to fall by 30% by YE to $55 USD, with ADR already dropping by 16% in H1. Hotel occupancy has fallen to 25% in H1, and is only expected to increase to 30% by YE. 5* hotels have seen the largest decline in occupancy

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has reassured all tourism stakeholders that they have the government’s all-out support after President Duterte called on Filipinos to travel locally and boost the economy

The wearing of face shields will be imposed as a minimum health standard, in addition to wearing a face mask in Metro Manila and Calabarzon, although a date for implementation has not yet been set. Localised lockdowns will also take place in those areas where 80% of cases are located

Bohol is targeting to reopen tourism by Q4 2020, although this is a “moving target” and subject to which travel bubbles the Philippines negotiates. The areas which would be likely to be reopened include Panglao Island and the Dauis municipality, and the governor has also launched a Unique Bohol Experience (UBE) accreditation program, which will also focus on sustainability. Bohol is expected to receive $62 million USD from the World Bank in Q1 2021 for tourism projects

Metro Manila will continue under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) until 15 Aug, and Cebu City will be downgraded to GCQ, too. Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City, Minglanilla, Consolacion, and Zamboanga City are also under GCQ, whilst the rest of the Philippines is under the more relaxed Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ)

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has had a net loss of 1.596 billion PHP

The DOT has called for tourism players to “think out of the box if we want to go back to business as usual.”

Tourism players should go digital and adopt contactless payments, the DOT has urged. All registered tourism companies will have access to SafePass, a digital contact tracing, health declaration and incident management solution

Cebu province has reopened to domestic tourism, but with certain conditions. Visitors will need to register in advance, make cashless payments and wear an RFID bracelet to help limit the number of visitors and contact tracing. Visitors will be given a refillable water tumbler (disposable water bottles will be banned), and freshly squeezed juice to boost the immune system will welcome guests on arrival. A curfew from 12am – 5am will also be in place

More businesses will be allowed in MGCQ areas, including live events, museums, tourist destinations, massage parlours and language schools. Gyms, drive-in cinemas will be permitted under GCQ areas from 1 Aug

Cebu has now launched its online booking tourism portal, discover.cebu.gov.ph, where all the tourism activities offered by the province will eventually be available. As of 29 Jul, it had 11 activities listed, and aims to have over 50. Whale shark watching in Oslob will be the first activity to reopen Cebu’s tourism on 31 Jul

The DOT is seeking support from tourism players to convince LGUs and residents to reopen their destinations to tourists

Residents of Boracay Island have negatively reacted to new rules which will remove age restrictions for tourists to enter the island and swim in the beach, whilst residents in the same age brackets (below 21 years old and above 60 years old) are still barred. The island had 357 visitors from 1 – 26 Jul

President Duterte in his State of the Nation called on congress to pass the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act

95% of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) members have temporarily closed down their businesses, with 200 employees laid off. Some members are also thinking of permanently closing down

A creation of a travel corridor between Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor in Central Visayas is being considered by the provincial governments, with a meeting set to take place on 12 Aug to further discuss the possibility

The Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) Philippines will hold an online travel mart, called the September Online Sale, and is asking its members to offer up to 70% discounts at hotel

The Western Visayas, an area heavily reliant on tourism, will need 380 billion PHP for rehabilitation and recovery of the region, which would be implemented from 2020 to 2023. Tourism in Q1 fell by more than half from 1,020,306 to 453,347 visitors, and the state government does not see much tourism activity, even in Q4

Moody’s Analytics expect the Philippines to lag behind its SE Asian peers in terms of economic recovery, and does not forecast a bounce in Q3 for its economy, unlike other countries in the region

600 tour guides have lost their jobs in Badian, Cebu province, with 20 million PHP lost in revenues from tourism in total in the town. Famous for its canyoneering, they have set out social distancing measures, including 5 guests per group, 10 mins gaps between groups and online bookings

The Department of Tourism (DOT) are asking for cooperation from local government units (LGUs) and the private sector to digitise tourism-related data. This would allow the DOT to gather information and analyse recovery faster

Private sector investment in Philippines’ tourism grew by 3.6% in 2019, whilst government investment in tourism infrastructure grew by 23.5%

A national tourism congress made up of government officials as well as major tourism players has been mooted by Rajah Tours Intl. This congress could then guide the government’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in their decisions. They also said that a “crisis fund” would be essential to support SMEs

Non-essential overseas travel for Filipinos is once again suspended, and only those with plane tickets confirmed as of 20 Jul will be allowed to continue their trips, as only one travel insurance agency has agreed to provide the insurance required by government guidelines

The Asian Development Bank believes there will be a soft rebound of the economy in H2, but not enough to ensure 2020 returns to growth. They also project that unemployment could reach 22% in Jun

The Bayanihan to Recover As One bill will be certified as urgent by Duterte. It is expected to be included in his State of the Nation address on 27 Jul

2,000 hotel rooms have been booked by the government in Manila as isolation areas as the temporary health centres are near capacity already

The age limits for visitors to Boracay island have now been lifted in a move to stimulate travellers, but only Western Visayas residents are still permitted to visit the island

The requirement to have RT-PCR swab tests for pax prior to flying to Davao has been rescinded – instead pax who do not have a test prior to departure will need to have a test upon exit of Davao airport. The testing on arrival will be free of charge, but results may take up to 24 hours

The DOT has estimated that tourism revenue dropped to 81 billion PHP in H1 from 2019’s 243 billion PHP, a 66% decline

A joint survey of tourism players from across the industry undertaken by PwC and the DOT in May revealed: • 97% say COVID-19 has the potential for significant impact on their business and is causing great concern • Top concerns included: financial and operational impact (86%), decline in tourism demand (76%) and decrease in tourism confidence (70%) • 78% have temporarily stopped offering their product/ service due to current restrictions • 43% have reduced employee headcount • 88% expected losses of over 50% in their 2020 revenue • 63% expect their businesses to normalise within 6-12 months, whilst 21% expect it to normalise after 12 months • 78% of respondents said they need up to 5 million PHP in additional funds to help operations, with 73% expecting to obtain help from government grants/ subsidies • The majority of businesses can only sustain their operations and cash for up to 6 months • 79% expect international tourist arrivals to decline by over 50% in 2020

The Cebu Governor has said that waterfalls, one of the top tourism attractions in the province, will be just for sightseeing, not swimming. The regulations for tourism reopening are still being drafted, and the first visitors allowed will be from within the province itself

The International Institute of Finance has said that smaller and medium sized travel firms in the Philippines may find it harder to survive than larger enterprises

The Baguio mayor hopes to reopen tourism businesses soon. They are looking at adopting “new normal” practices such as touchless transaction and services, with payment via QR codes. They have also proposed an inter-travel tourism bubble with domestic tourists in North Luzon province

The government is encouraging Western Visayas residents to visit Boracay after having few visitors since reopening

Foreign nationals with long-term visas in the Philippines will be allowed entry from 1 Aug. They must pre-book accredited quarantine facilities, as well as pre-book a COVID test provider

Farm tourism will be jointly promoted by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation. They will focus on capacity building, marketing and technological development to promote the farm tourism, with select pilot areas

The Tourism Promotions Board will waive its membership fees until Dec 2021

MICE is now allowed at 50% capacity under Modified General Community Quarantine. Participants below 21 years and old and above 60 are not allowed to take part. MICE organisers must designate an isolation room or area for unwell persons, and regulations cover the type of seating arrangements for social distancing. Buffets and self-service are still not allowed

The National Capital Region (NCR) of Manila will remain under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) status, whilst Cebu City will be downgraded to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) from 16 Jul – 31 Jul. However, Manila has been warned that should numbers continue to rise that they will be put back under MECQ. Davao City is under MECQ status

There has now been 30,000 permanently displaced workers in Manila as of 1 Jul, a doubling since last month

Cebu province are refining their guidelines for the resumption of tourism businesses. Potential measures will include wearing of face masks, regular disinfection of equipment and no sharing of mouthpieces and diving tubes

Just 180,000 pax arrived into the Philippines from 16 Mar – 30 Jun, a drop of 96% YoY

Travel agents will be permitted to run temporary businesses from their offices – but once they resume operations, they will need to comply with the DOT standards. The Philippines Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) have confirmed that a majority of its members have started food trading and deliveries

Critical care capacity for ICU beds is now in the danger zone in Manila as cases continue to rise

The Tourism Congress of the Philippine have reminded tourism organisations that if they want to receive financial assistance, then they will need to be accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT)

Passengers bound for Cebu on international flights will be required to register online at least 2 days prior to departure

Mactan-Cebu International Airport is the first airport in the Philippines to now have its own COVID-19 laboratory which can process 1,500 – 3,000 RT-PCR tests per day

Tourism activities are due to restart in Cebu Province, where most parts are now under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) as of 10 Jul. An executive order is expected for the guidelines for tourism activities on 14 or 15 Jul. Cebu City remains under ECQ

The Department of Tourism has reiterated that domestic tourism will be a “catalyst” to restart the industry

The DOT is creating specific MICE protocols, as well as travel and tours, tour guides, tourist attractions and beaches

Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) members have refunded customers close to 30 million PHP for hotel cancellations. Philippine Airlines has also appealed for understanding for the slow refund process as they are dealing with “more than a million affected customers”. Cebu Pacific have also reassured customers that they are doing all they can to refund customers

Leisure travellers are still not permitted to visit tourism sites in Central Luzon, as the majority of destinations prefer to restart for their own residents first

The Philippines Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) has appealed for the public to understand that they are unable to issue refunds, despite the government allowing agents to reopen under GCQ areas. “Travel agents still cannot generate income to sustain even minimal skeletal operations without travel demand and with zero revenues. Please understand why we choose to have our offices remain closed,” they stated

H1 foreign arrivals reached only 1.32 million, 68.1% down YoY. June arrivals were expected to remain at zero. Revenue for H1 has also dropped 66.7% YoY to 81.05 billion PHP

Baguio Tourism Councol has approved a resolution with 6 million PHP worth of tourism projects to revitalise the destination

El Nido will reopen on 6 Jul as a test for a Palawan-wide reopening of domestic tourism activities. Travellers must travel from an MECQ area point-to-point directly from Clark with AirSwift, as well as have COVID-19 negative test results valid from 48hrs of departure

Just 81 tourists arrived on Boracay between 16-30 Jun. Kalibo resumed its first regular scheduled flight to Manila on 2 Jul. Caticlan airport, the nearest airport to Boracay, remains closed

50 hotels and accommodation have reopened in Ilocos Norte

The Philippines will enter a 2nd phase of the national plan to contain COVID-19, which will include prevent-detect-isolate-treat-reintegrate and zoning strategies. It will also continue to manage the movement of returning Filipinos and local travellers

Religious gatherings of 10% of venue capacity will be allowed to open under GCQ areas. Football and basketball practices for professional players will also be allowed

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is looking to reopen 3 Palawan tourist destinations, including El Nido, Coron and San Vicente. They have recorded a loss of 3.1 billion PHP losses from Mar – Jun, with 14,000 tourism workers affected. El Nido would be a test case, with tourists who wish to visit needing to present negative test results before travelling

Travel agencies are now allowed to operate in GCQ areas, but must only use a skeleton workforce to do administrative tasks

8 more airports are reopening for commercial flights in the Philippines: Busuanga, Tacloban, Ormoc, Catbalogan, Catarman, Borongan and Surigao

150 independent and MSME hotel owners have joined together to support one another whilst they await the approval of the tourism fiscal support bill. The Association of Travel and Tour Agencies in Calabarzon said around 80% of its members have switched to selling produce to survive

The ban on foreign nationals to the Philippines will remain in place, even for those for will come to the Philippines to work

The Philippines could lose up to $22.64 billion USD, equivalent to 7% of its GDP, if tourism does not resume for 12 months according to a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. A 12-month stopping would also mean a drop in skilled workers wages of 8%, and unskilled workers 10%. The Tourism Congress of the Philippines only expects limited resumption of domestic tourism in Sep

A senator who is the chair of the tourism committee has said that the Philippines is not ready yet to accept foreign tourists from low-risk countries, as the test-trace-treat efforts have not been perfected

Travelbook.ph, an OTA, will close down, with its last day of operations 15 Jul

Cebu province will be focusing on reviving tourism in the region as the area has been relaxed to a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), despite Cebu city being under a strict ECQ

Cebu City will remain under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and Manila under general community quarantine (GCQ), as their statuses are extended from 30 Jun to 15 Jul

Tour operators and hoteliers in the Philippines want greater clarity, asking for better coordination between the DOT and local government (LGUs). Changing guidelines and different implement in each destination is causing headaches and developing new products is nearly impossible in the shifting market

Farm tourism could be a new trend post-pandemic, with the Philippine Farm Tourism Development Association saying that they expect more local tourists

The “Philippine Travel Survey” run by the Department of Tourism (DOT) had the following domestic travel insights: • 77% of respondents are willing to travel domestically, with 48% expecting to travel within 6 months • 44% foresee a reduction in travel budgets • Safety remains the top concern for travellers • 40% feel that joining a shared/ group tour is “very unsafe”, whilst 34% felt attending a convention or conference is • Once restrictions are lifted, 69% are planning to go to the beach, 54% take a roadtrip and 41% go on a staycation • 80% prefer to book holiday components separately • The top 10 domestic destinations respondents are planning to travel to once restrictions are lifted include: Boracay, Siargao, Baguio, Manila, Cebu, El Nido, Coron, Batangas, Bohol and La Union

The “Philippine Travel Survey” run by the Department of Tourism (DOT) had the following outbound travel insights: • Only 26% of respondents expect to travel within 6 months • 37% plan to travel to East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau • 30% plan to travel to the ASEAN region

Once quarantine restrictions have been eased to modified general community quarantine (MCGQ), business travellers from other countries may be allowed to enter

The reactivation of tourist police units has been welcomed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to help enforce health protocols in areas under modified general community quarantine

More provinces have closed their borders again to stranded residents

Further easing of restriction in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) has been allowed, including new guidelines on restaurant and cafes in accommodation establishments being able to operate at 30% capacity. Other guidelines are expected to be announced on 29 Jun

The government is looking at boosting moto-tourism, with the DOT mapping out a campaign, including asking hotels, restaurants and other establishments that bike riders frequent to provide travel kits to allow bikers to maintain good hygiene, promoting biker-friendly hotels and rolling out an app to promote remoter areas

144 tourism businesses in Bicol have resumed, and the Department of Tourism (DOT) is using social media platforms to revive interest in Bicol

Accommodation providers in Clark are able to operate at 50% capacity now that the area is under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ)

Domestic airlines continue to refuse refunds to Filipino travel agents, with airlines insisting on giving credit into a “travel fund” instead. Travel agents are unhappy with this system, which they consider to be interest-free financing for airlines, and also prevents them from accessing the cash to survive. They suggest instead that the government use some of 58 billion PHP stimulus package to be a revolving fund that reimburses airline refunds

Despite opening on 16 Jun, between 16-22 Jun just 48 tourists visited Boracay, with the biggest single day on 20 Jun with 19 tourists. The Malay Mayor has said that tourists are afraid to visit the island after the report that a COVID-19 positive person had visited the island from 12-14 Jun

The Philippine Red Cross is setting up testing centres in Boracay, Bohol, Palawan and Siargao to increase tourists’ confidence that tourism workers are clear of COVID-19, as well as speed up testing processes on arrival

Duty Free Philippines have postponed their plan to close stores in provinces, as they have seen an “opportunity and a small window of hope for improvement”

428 accommodation establishments in Ilocos Region have been given permission to reopen

43% of Filipinos expect their life to worsen in the next 12 months according to a new survey, a new high in the 37-year history of the survey

Baguio may open to travellers by September, accepting around 50,000 visitors initially, 10% of its capacity

The government has formed a panel to decide on the possible entry of more foreigners to the country after an appeal by a foreign embassy to allow workers into key infrastructure projects, and permanent resident visa holders

Google x Trip.com have revealed that the Philippines is #19 for APAC travellers’ next phase destinations, with Manila coming in the top 20 short haul getaway destinations

Statistics for tourism arrivals in 2019 have shown that tourism contributed 12.9% to Philippines 2019 GDP, a 10.8% increase from 2018. It also showed that tourism employed 5.71 million workers in 2019. Domestic tourism spend also grew from 2.85 trillion PHP in 2018, to 3.14 trillion PHP in 2019

The Hundred Islands National Park will reopen to tourists at 50% capacity. Initially, city residents will only be accepted, before gradually expanding to regional tourists

Some tourism destinations in Davao region have reopened, catering to only local tourists as travellers outside Davao are not yet permitted to enter the region. The establishments which have opened must keep to 50% capacity and fill out forms on health status

International flights are likely to resume as late as Sep, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has stated – in part, because of airlines’ reluctance to restart due to uncertainty of travel policies

The Department of Tourism (DOT) will discuss if Boracay can be opened up to Filipino domestic tourists other than from Western Visayas over the next 2 weeks. The statement comes after a controversy of a COVID-19 positive fire bureau personnel who stayed on the island before her results were released

Some local governments (LGUs) remain hesitant about reopening to tourism due to safety concerns. The Department of Tourism (DOT) is assisting them with protocols to give them confidence to be able to reopen

The General Community Quarantine (GCQ) has been extended in Metro Manila. Cebu City has been put back onto the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the highest restriction, until 30 Jun

A Domestic Travel Sentiment Survey has shown that: • 29% of respondents want to travel within 1-3 months and 61% in 6-12 months • Travelers still prefer to book directly with hotels and airlines, stay at 3* and 4* hotel and have an average budget of 1,000-3,000 PHP • The age group 26 – 55 years old will be the first groups to travel domestically • 69% prefer to travel by air • Top travel destinations were Boracay (14%), Palawan (12%), Other Luzon (9%), Cebu (8%), Baguio (8%), Manila (6%), Bohol (5%), Tagayatay (5%), Other Visayas (5%) and Batangas (4%) • 66% of respondents have experienced pay cuts, resulting in a 10-80% reduction in income

The GCQ in Bohol has been extended until 30 Jun

The Hotel Resort Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) has reported that 43% of its members have suspended operations, resulting in a loss of jobs

Passengers who want to travel domestically by air or sea must provide a medical certificate stating that they are COVID-free before they can received a travel permit (travel authority). Travel authorities are granted by the local police chiefs and station commanders

The DOT is boosting its digital campaigns with “Wake up in the Philippines”, encouraging tourists to stay home now to be able to travel later. They have also launched a microsite giving answers on safety in the Philippines with FAQs

Duterte will decide on 15 Jun whether to extend the general community quarantine (GCQ) in Metro Manila and Cebu City, or to increase the restrictions back to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ)

11 airports have reopened since 4 Jun – however, many airports are still not allowed to reopen

The Department of Tourism (DOT) have said that one of the greatest challenges is to make people feel safe when travelling. They are considering “travel bubbles” between the ASEAN market and Bohol and Boracay

Boracay Island is now open for domestic tourists between 21 – 59 years old, from Western Visayas under Phase 1 of reopening on 16 Jun. Once zero COVID cases have been reported after a month, the age restrictions on entering Boracay will be eased. Caticlan and Kalibo airports will continue to be closed to commercial flights. Data from tourism arrivals has shown that between 17 Mar to 28 May, Boracay has lost 14.23 billion PHP in tourism receipts

The Board of Investments have approved fiscal measures for tourism businesses who want to upgrade their facilities. This would include an income tax holiday for 3 years. Upgrades which would qualify are renovations of guest rooms, hygiene gates, thermal scanners, mobile check-in systems and non-touch control panels, amongst others. Meanwhile, the AirAsia Philippines President said that they had optimism that “vacation activities” will start by Jul or Aug and that they see international tourism resuming by Sep or Oct

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has said that they expect tourism receipts to reduce by 56.9% vs. 2019. Prior to COVID-19, it was expected to grow by 12% in 2020. Their 2021 estimate is a 15% growth

Coron has reopened for domestic tourism, allowing local travellers on regulated tours. Reopening domestic flights to Puerto Princesa is still under discussion

The cruise and tour operator, Sun Cruises, has announced it is closing down after 30 years in the business. It operated routes to Corregidor

The government expects to allow more businesses, including travel agents, tour operators, water parks, beaches and resorts to be able to open at 50% in areas under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) from next week

The Philippines is looking at the Middle East as a potential inbound market, and that they plan to promote nature and remote islands

The DOT will roll out a campaign for domestic tourism with a focus on niche markets, including health and wellness, farm, dive, and community-based experiences

Experts suggest that travel corridors between islands in the Philippines itself could be a targeted way to boost domestic tourism

The DOT will target getting “high-value” tourists, and that quantity of tourists will no longer be a focus. Baguio City is only looking at opening the city by Sep, and Bohol July to tourists. The DOT are also launching digital tourism, with online training

Tourism arrivals in Jan-May dropped 62.2%, and revenue by 60.6% according to the Department of Tourism (DOT)

A think tank has said that the government’s tourism recovery plan should include helping tourism companies to pivot out of the industry given the “longer period of recovery that may likely happen”

No decisions have been made yet on lifting inbound travel restrictions, the government has said

Swimming is allowed on Boracay, but only for local residents

The DOT will assist more tourism businesses to be digitised to keep operations running

81% of tourism companies in the Philippines hiring a combined 222,424 workers were closed temporarily during the lockdown, whilst the remaining 19% have flexi arrangements

The Department of Tourism (DOT) stressed that travel for tourism can only be done between areas under MGCQ (modified general community quarantine), and still subject to local government regulations. Those tourism establishments who are open should be accredited with a Certificate of Authority to Operate from the DOT

Bohol and Baguio are being considered pilot areas for reopening of tourism’s “new normal”

The Philippines Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) are optimistic and are scheduling events to jumpstart domestic tourism. They are planning a virtual Philippines Travel Mart in Oct, and a physical event in Dec

Metro Manila will be downgraded to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) from 1 Jun. The rest of the country will be under a modified GCQ

500,000 tourism workers have now benefited from the wage subsidy program, with a total of 4.3 billion PHP distributed in the first tranche

Hotels in modified General Community Quarantine (GCQ) will be permitted to reopen at 50% capacity, including the opening of their restaurants, bars, gyms and spas

Tourism arrivals to Davao have dropped by 50% in Q1 YoY. The local tourism department have been providing training on farm-tourism amongst others, to bounce back

International arrivals are down 54% from Jan-Apr YoY to just 1.32 million, with tourism receipts down 56% to 79.8 PHP billion. The House of Representatives also passed a bill allocating 58 billion PHP to support the Department of Tourism’s Response and Recovery Program. These funds will be used for: • Providing interest-free loans or loan guarantees up to five years for maintenance and operating expenses • Credit facilities for upgrading, rehabilitation, or modernization of current establishments to be compliant with new health and safety standards • Marketing and product development promotions and programs • Grants for education, training, and advising for tourism stakeholders for new normal alternative livelihood programs • Utilization of information technology for the improvement of tourism services • Development of a tourist tracking system for emergency response and • Establishment of spatial database to improve planning capacity

The government started making the payouts for the second tranche of the Small Business Wage Subsidy