Banaue opens regulated tourism activities

By Marcelo Lihgawon

BANAUE, Ifugao (PIA) – – Regulated tourism arrivals and activities in this town except in barangay Batad will be allowed starting December 17.

Mayor John Raymund Wesley Dulawan issued Executive Order No. 32 allowing the soft reopening of tourism activities in the municipality to enable local businesses and residents to recover from their economic losses. However, this is subject to guidelines and minimum health standards and protocols should always be observed.

Under EO. 32 contains the guidelines, travel requirements and other details for compliance. only fully vaccinated adults and minors are allowed entry. Children below 12 years old are not allowed entry.

No walk-in tourists, only tourists with advance booking/travel and accommodation arrangements are allowed entry with 100 tourism arrivals daily. This does not include incoming government workers on officials travel, guests of local residents and day-tour visitors.

Tourists should register with the Banaue Tourism Facebook account, present a vaccination card or certificate and a printed copy or screenshot of approved online registration and travel booking confirmation for verification.

They should submit themselves at the triage area for health screening. Symptomatic visitors, regardless of vaccination status, will be immediately isolated and tested at the visitor’s expense and referred to local health officials for appropriate action. A Php50 environment fee will be collected at the triage area.

Government workers on official business must present travel orders and vaccination cards. Guests and relatives of local residents who are visiting and will be hosted by local residents need not register as tourists but are strongly advised to be fully vaccinated.

Dulawan enjoined tourists and other visitors to always observe the minimum health standards and protocols and avoid gatherings and crowding. Non-complying tourists shall be reprimanded and if still unyielding, shall be advised to go home.

Hotels, restaurants, lodging houses and other accommodation establishments, transport groups who shall violate the order shall be dealt with accordingly by law. (JDP/MBL-PIA CAR, Ifugao)