Budget airline AirAsia has joined local tourism groups in urging the Department of Tourism for “travel bubbles” to Panglao Island in Bohol and Boracay Island.
AirAsia is calling for the government to allow leisure travel to Panglao and Boracay under a strict “tourism bubble” after the Panglao Tourism Council vowed to manage tourist arrivals.
The airline says it is joining the call from business groups and local government units from both islands.
AirAsia Philippines’ Steve Dailisan spoke last Tuesday (May 18) on how the tourism bubble strategy was “an effective measure in keeping the balance between opening economic activities and ensuring the well-being of everyone.”
The Chamber of Commerce on both islands has appealed for the inclusion of tourism frontliners in the vaccine roll-out to boost tourist confidence.
The Panglao LGU reported a loss of P124 million in gross tourism receipts in April while DOT Region 6 reported that Boracay lost P49 billion in potential tourism revenues in 2020.
Both islands also opened up to domestic tourists last year while implementing strict Covid-19 testing measures but still lost many potential tourists when the NCR Plus bubble was implemented last March.
The new tourism bubble will include those from the NCR Plus (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna) which is now under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions.
Boracay, as an internationally awarded travel destination, is also calling on the provincial government to open the island to “international bubbles” in hopes to restart the economy.
The Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry filed a position paper on May 5 to also appeal for the resumption of unimpeded regular flights to the island.
On May 21, Panglao reported a total of 21 active cases while Boracay’s Municipality of Malay only has 19 active cases.
The Department of Tourism supports setting up of a "green lane" to allow the entry of fully vaccinated foreign visitors to the Philippines.
“The Green Lane will pave the way for the reopening of our tourist destinations to leisure travelers who are now fully vaccinated. It will give the jobs back to many of our tourism workers and gradually revive the tourism industry under safe conditions,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a statement Friday (May 21).
Tags: #Covid19, #tourism, #tourismbubble, #BoracayIsland, #PanglaoIsland