Malacañang on Monday appealed to Filipinos to support the government’s directive allowing hotels to offer “staycations,” to boost the tourism sector amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) allowed hotels in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) to offer “staycations” last Friday.
Palace spokesman Harry Roque explained that the gradual reopening of the tourism sector was listed in the second phase of the government’s national action plan (NAP) against the health crisis.
“Sang-ayon po sa [NAP] po ng ating National Task Force, talagang unti-unti po nating binubuksan ang ating ekonomiya. At itong pinaplano po ng DOT ay alinsunod naman po doon sa unti-unting pagbubukas ng sektor ng turismo,” he said.
Roque expressed confidence that the latest directive would not promote complacency among Filipinos.
“Let’s give it a chance dahil gaya po ng ating ad campaign, kinakailangan naman po—puwede naman pong pag-ingatan ang buhay para po makapaghanapbuhay ang lahat,” he said.
The DOT has yet to issue “staycation” guidelines.
Metro Manila, Bulacan, Batangas and Tacloban City are under GCQ until Sept. 30. John Ezekiel J. Hirro