Lapu-Lapu to remove all travel restrictions; tourism players welcome move

A yacht passes by a resort in Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island, Cebu in this photo taken December 12, 2020. | CDN Digital photo | Brian J. Ochoa (file photo)

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — Tourism stakeholders in Lapu-Lapu City welcomed the decision of the city government to ease the travel restriction of domestic tourists and travelers by removing all the requirements needed to enter the city.

On Thursday, March 4, 2021, Lawyer Misaellee Tejano, secretary to the  Lapu-Lapu CityMayor Junard Chan, made this announcement during the stakeholders’ meeting of hotel and resort managers, saying that the city would no longer require a letter of acceptance, travel endorsements, travel authority issued by the Joint Task Force Shield, medical certificates, and swab tests to domestic travelers.

Colleen Barcelona, vice president of Hotel Resorts and Restaurants Association in Cebu, Inc. (HRRAC), said that the lifting of travel restriction requirements would not only boost HRRAC members but the entire Lapu-lapu properties and tourism establishments as well.

“This is what we have all been waiting for,” Barcelona said.

She said that eventually, tourists that would arrive in Lapu-Lapu would also visit Mandaue City, Cebu City, and the entire province, which would also boost their economy.

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During the meeting, Tejano, however, said that with this development, they would be increasing the responsibility of hotel management, especially in checking with the health status of each of their guests.

“So you will have to heighten your symptoms checks, your contact tracing, and to ensure that your guests will stay in your premises, and if they go out, you know where they go,” Tejano said.

Barcelona, for her part, said that they were already implementing this measure for this would not only benefit the city, but also the industry.

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Cindi Chan, the chairperson of the City Tourism Cultural and Historical Commission, also said that this would be a big help, especially to hotels and resorts that were no longer in good shape and that were struggling due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“This is a welcome move. The airport, the airlines have been asking for this,” Chan said.

Chan, however, said that domestic tourists and travelers would still be required to comply with the health and safety protocols, especially the wearing of a face mask and face shield to avoid the spread of the virus.

/dbs

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