Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 17) — President Rodrigo Duterte is set to be the poster boy of local tourism as the Philippines braces for the negative impact of the coronavirus outbreak to the country’s tourism.
Tourism Undersecretary Art Boncato on Monday said Duterte is expected to tour the country’s major islands starting the end of the month or early March. In February alone, the country is expecting to lose P14.8 billion in tourism or a total of P42.9 billion in revenue if the travel ban on China, Hong Kong, and Macau lasts for three months.
“We are lining up destinations like Boracay, Cebu, even Bohol. It’s part of the initial list of destinations the President would most likely visit in the next couple of weeks… The intention is to visit as many destinations as possible,” he said in a media briefing.
Boncato said this will also help the country as it experiences “slowing down” in terms of arrivals from certain foreign markets.
The Department of Tourism is coordinating with the Office of the President to align Duterte’s schedule with the efforts to boost the tourism industry.
Duterte on February 14 encouraged Filipinos to travel with him around the country, assuring them it is safe to go around the Philippines “be it an issue of health, be it an issue of law and order, and be it an issue of accessibility.”
Some airlines and hotels have agreed to come up with multiple promotions to help address the decline in revenue. Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat previously said the department will double its media placements to let foreign tourists know that it is safe to come to the country, even though it has three confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the national events of the Department of Education will also help country’s tourism. The postponed regional events will push through in March and April. She added the Palarong Pambansa slated in May is expected to draw 30, 000 students and their family members.
