The Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 6 will continue to pursue the rehabilitation and recovery plan for the tourism sector in Western Visayas to help stakeholders amid the pandemic.
This was stressed by DOT-6 OIC Regional Director Cristine Mansinares at the virtual press conference called recently by the agency, following her assumption as the new head of their agency in the region after former head Helen Catalbas has retired from the service.
Among these priorities are digital transformation and promoting the health and safety of tourism workers.
Mansinares said they will maximize the use of digital and online channels to communicate tourism-related updates and information especially for the benefit of tourists.
They will also launch soon a regional microsite with a chat booth in the DOT national website in order to cater to frequently asked questions and other queries from stakeholders.
Regarding the health and safety of workers in the sector, Mansinares said DOT has facilitated the inclusion of more frontline workers in the tourism sector.
Still on the welfare of this sector, DOT together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has provided cash assistance of P74,520,000.00 to 14,904 workers out of 31,704 applicants.
There are 16,800 more waiting to be granted in the amount of P84, 000,000.00. All in all, they represent hundreds of tourism establishments in the region.
DOT-6 said the Slow Food Travel tourism program is also coming to the region even as they are working on other tourism areas for development as part of overall efforts towards recovery.
The focus of DOT is domestic tourism promotion for the moment even as they try to implement health and safety protocols.
On Boracay Island, the DOT-6 official said they are working hard with their partners to give Boracay a new life even in the new normal. (PIA-6)
